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Suddenly unsure on immigration, Trump trying to clear it up

 
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has promised on Twitter that he’ll make a major speech Wednesday on illegal immigration, which has been his signature issue.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has promised on Twitter that he’ll make a major speech Wednesday on illegal immigration, which has been his signature issue.
Published Aug. 30, 2016

It has been the driving issue of Donald Trump's campaign. Build a wall along the southern border. Make Mexico pay for it. And expel everyone living in the United States illegally with the help of a "deportation force."

Ten weeks before the election, however, buffeted by conflicting advice from aides and advisers, Trump has seemed to be in full indecision mode.

At a Fox News town hall taping last week, in the face of pressing questions, he proceeded to poll the audience at length on the fate of an estimated 11 million people.

Trump is now planning a major speech Wednesday, during which he's expected to finally clarify his stance. Supporters are hoping for a strong, decisive showing. But for critics, many already disposed to vote against him, his wavering on what has been his signature issue seems like a warning that he's unable to handle a central element of any president's job — making decisions.

It also underscores how little his Republican campaign has invested in the nitty-gritty of outlining what he would do as president, especially when compared with the more detailed plans of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"It's just puzzling," said Lanhee Chen, who has served as a policy adviser to several Republican presidential candidates. "This is the issue on which he rose to prominence in the primary and the issue on which he continues to stake much of his campaign."

From the start, Trump has never been the kind of candidate to pore over thick policy books. Indeed, he has mocked Clinton on the subject.

Until recently, however, there has been no doubt about where Trump stood on illegal immigration. The wall was going up — Mexico would have to pay — and those estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally were going to have to leave.

But over the summer, Trump began suggesting in closed-door conversations with Hispanic leaders that he might be open to softening his stance. On Aug. 20, he convened a round table of Hispanic lawmakers and business leaders, and left some with the same impression. The day after, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said his position on deportations was "to be determined."

CLINTON proposal: Hillary Clinton on Monday rolled out a comprehensive plan to address millions of Americans coping with mental illness, pointing to the need to fully integrate mental health services into the nation's health care system. Her plan would focus on early diagnosis and intervention, and create a national initiative for suicide prevention.