President Donald Trump says he isn’t considering giving citizenship to illegal immigrants, but his spokeswoman Lindsay Walters and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi say he is.
Trump tweeted last week that he wants Congress to “legalize DACA,” a departure from his campaign trail rhetoric that he wouldn’t support amnesty. According to CNN, Walters told reporters Thursday that the Trump administration “will not discuss amnesty,” but “what they will discuss is a responsible path forward.”
Walters then defined a “responsible path” as potentially including “legal citizenship over a period of time.” The White House has been using “responsible immigration reform” as a euphemism for amnesty. (RELATED: 69 Times Trump Attacked Amnesty)
Shortly after Walters’ comments, however, Trump told reporters, “We’re not looking at citizenship, we’re not looking at amnesty. We’re looking at allowing people to stay here.”
Adding to the confusion, Pelosi said at a Thursday press briefing, “I do believe there is an understanding that down the road there is an eventual path to citizenship.”
Walters has not responded to a press inquiry from The Daily Caller seeking clarification.
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer both claimed Wednesday night that they came to an agreement with Trump to make legal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that protects roughly 800,000 illegal immigrants from deportation. (RELATED: Top Dems Say Trump Agreed To Amnesty Without Wall … Trump Responds … )
Trump then tweeted Thursday, “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military?” (RELATED: Who Wouldn’t Want To Give Amnesty To Illegal Immigrants? Trump Asks )
A bill Trump could likely sign to legalize the so-called Dreamers could give nearly 2 million illegal immigrants legal status. (RELATED: Trump: ‘The Wall Will Come Later’)