Trump Calls Deportation Push Too Harsh as ICE Aims for 2,700 Arrests Daily

President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes that his immigration enforcement went too far in some cases and hurt Republicans in the midterm elections. But his administration is sending mixed signals on whether anything will change for the millions of people living in the country illegally.

The interview was recorded Friday and aired Sunday. On the same day, a White House spokeswoman and the Department of Homeland Security told the BBC that deportation efforts would not slow down. According to CBS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were recently told to aim for about 2,700 arrests a day, up from an earlier target of 2,000.

What Trump said about the crackdown

Trump told correspondent Ross Douthat that the approach was "too tough" when it swept up people who had good jobs and whose only offense was entering the country illegally. He said he deserved top marks for closing the border and for removing people he described as the bad ones, but that immigration both helped and hurt his party.

According to CBS, he said the country is divided: some people want all of those immigrants removed, while others think good people working in jobs such as landscaping or hotels, and in some cases paying taxes, should be allowed to stay. NBC News reported that Trump said some people on the far right want everyone removed and that some of them are in his administration.

Trump said he would "love to do something on immigration" with congressional Democrats, giving no details. NBC reported that when he was asked whether a deal could include legal status for undocumented workers, he said yes.

Why it matters: enforcement is not slowing yet

For immigrants, employers and families, the practical question is whether arrests will ease. Right now the signals point in different directions.

• A White House spokeswoman told the BBC the administration will not slow its efforts to arrest and deport people it describes as criminals. A DHS spokesperson said ICE is not backing away.
• CBS reported that ICE's daily arrest goal has been raised to about 2,700 from 2,000, according to ICE sources.
• On Friday, Trump replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, whom the BBC and NBC describe as the architect of the administration's hardline immigration policy. CBS said it is unclear whether the administration plans to change its strategy.
• Vice President JD Vance wrote online after the election that he was open to changing enforcement, for example by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, according to the BBC.

The administration has long said it prioritizes arresting the "worst first" while warning that anyone in the country illegally can be arrested and deported, CBS reported. It has defended its approach by saying it targets public safety threats. CBS also noted that a large share of those arrested have no criminal convictions beyond immigration offenses.

The political backdrop

The BBC reported that immigration was the third most important issue for midterm voters, after the economy and the state of democracy. Democrats won majorities in Congress, helped in part by a shift of Latino voters toward the party in historically conservative states such as Texas. CBS reported that support for Republicans fell in South Texas and other heavily Latino areas that had moved toward the GOP two years ago.

CBS cited a poll in which 58% of respondents said the administration's immigration actions have gone too far. On which party is better able to handle immigration, voters picked Republicans (43%) slightly over Democrats (41%).

Enforcement sweeps this year led to protests in cities including Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles. The BBC reported that two U.S. protesters in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by immigration agents.

What happens next

Democrats will control both the House and the Senate starting next year, CBS reported, which would give any immigration negotiations a different footing. Trump also blamed "bad messaging," possibly his own, for the midterm losses, according to NBC. Neither the White House nor DHS has announced a change in enforcement policy.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by BBC News, CBS News, NBC News