Trump wants to ease deportations, but his new chief of staff has other plans
US President Donald Trump has suggested allowing some undocumented immigrants to remain in the country if they have jobs and pay taxes, signalling a possible shift in one of his administration’s most controversial policies.
Speaking to CBS’s ’60 Minutes’ in an interview aired on Sunday, 8 November, Trump acknowledged that his mass deportation campaign had contributed to Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections.
President Trump says his administration’s deportation policy was «too tough.» https://t.co/4EQsg4QA8c https://t.co/JDcqgRAySp
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 9, 2026
Trump defended the removal of people convicted of serious crimes but questioned targeting those who had lived in the US for years without committing other offences.
He pointed to immigrants working in hotels, landscaping and other industries, saying many Americans believed they should be allowed to stay.
The president also expressed willingness to negotiate an immigration agreement with Democrats, who will take control of both chambers of Congress in January 2027. However, he did not outline specific proposals.
Will Trump’s immigration policy actually change?
The interview followed significant Republican losses in the 3 November elections, including in areas with large Latino populations that had previously supported Trump.
According to CBS News, 58% of voters surveyed in exit polls believed the administration’s immigration enforcement measures had been excessive.
Since January 2025, federal authorities have expanded workplace raids, arrests and deportations. Many detainees have no criminal records beyond immigration violations.
Despite growing criticism, several administration officials told CBS that enforcement operations were unlikely to slow down.
Their assessment followed Trump’s decision on 6 November to appoint Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Miller, 41, has been one of the main architects of the president’s immigration agenda. As deputy chief of staff for policy, he pushed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target 3,000 arrests per day, including people without criminal convictions.
His promotion gives him greater influence over White House operations at a time when Democrats are preparing congressional investigations into ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticised the appointment, arguing that placing Miller in charge contradicted Trump’s suggestion of a more moderate approach.
