Trump has not changed immigration policy, the candidate's son says

The son of Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his father "did not soften" his hard-line stance on immigration, on the eve of a speech in which the Republican candidate will attempt to dispel confusion about one of the pillars of his presidential campaign.

"He was not softening anything," said Donald Trump Jr to CNN when asked about a recent situation in which his father seemed to ask a crowd at a rally in Texas what he should do about the nearly 11 million of illegal immigrants in the country.

Asked about whether the Republican candidate still wanted to deport them, Trump Jr. said the assumption was "correct", but suggested a more moderate tone on the controversial issue.

"You have to start with small steps," he added. "You have to eliminate 'cities sanctuary' [cities who decide not to cooperate with the requirements of the immigration authorities, which are federal]. You have to get rid of criminals, certainly in the first place. And you have to protect the border."

The characteristic of Trump promise during the campaign has been to build a wall on the US border with Mexico and deport all undocumented immigrants living in the country.

On Tuesday, the tycoon reiterated that, if elected, will build the wall.

"From the first day I said it would build a big wall on the southern border, and more. Stop illegal immigration. Watch on Wednesday!" Posted Trump on Twitter, promoting discourse that will in Phoenix, in the state of Arizona, on the border with Mexico.

Approach "human"

But lately Trump has distanced itself from its old proposals, such as the creation of a "deportation of force" to force millions of illegal immigrants.

This stance now appears as an obstacle, at a time when he seeks to expand its base of voters in dispute with Democrat Hillary Clinton, who accused Trump of fueling xenophobia and racism.

The new director of Trump campaign, Kellyanne Conway, said there was little real change in the core principles of Trump immigration platform. The proposal "does not offer amnesty" for those who are in the country illegally, for example, remains.

Conway pointed out, however, that Trump was committed to a "just and humane" approach to protect US borders.

A year ago, the Republican promised immigration reform that would suspend automatic US citizenship to anyone born in the United States, claiming that undocumented immigrants take advantage of this constitutional right for their children to obtain social benefits Americans.

Last week, however, the tycoon seemed less resolute, reaching suggest that could work with immigrants who respect the law and pay taxes.

"Certainly there may be a 'smoothing' because we are not seeking to harm people," he said in a Fox News television network program last week.

The next day, Trump resumed harder tone, insisting that there will be "no path to legalization" for immigrants living illegally in the United States, including those who have not committed crimes.