For three weeks the mainstream media was talking about a Donald Trump pivot on illegal immigration. First they said he was going to grant amnesty to the 11-12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, then they said there would be no physical wall—only a virtual wall. Even though the Trump spokespeople kept saying over and over he’s not making changes to his plan, it seemed as if every day there was a new report claiming the Republican was dropping an element of his immigration plan. But most of what people anticipated as a flip-flop was mostly a change in tone, very little change in policy.

Last week Joe Scarborough of MSNBC started calling the candidate “Amnesty Don,” based on some of the rumors. Trump however, put an end to that speculation:

We will break the cycle of amnesty and illegal immigration. There will be no amnesty.

 

Our message to the world will be this: you cannot obtain legal status, or become a citizen of the United States, by illegally entering our country. This declaration alone will help stop the crisis of illegal crossings and illegal overstays. People will know that you can’t just smuggle in, hunker down, and wait to be legalized. Those days are over.

Trump did a good job in pointing out the difference between his plan which is American citizen-centric, and that of Hillary Clinton which is illegal immigrant-centric.

Anyone who tells you that the core issue is the needs of those living here illegally has simply spent too much time in Washington.

 

(…) To all the politicians, donors and special interests, hear these words from me today: there is only one core issue in the immigration debate and it is this: the well-being of the American people. Nothing even comes a close second.

 

Hillary Clinton, for instance, talks constantly about her fears that families will be separated. But she’s not talking about the American families who have been permanently separated from their loved ones because of a preventable death. No, she’s only talking about families who came here in violation of the law.

 

We will treat everyone living or residing in our country with dignity. We will be fair, just and compassionate to all. But our greatest compassion must be for American citizens.

Trump announced a ten-point plan which essentially doubled down on his previously announced immigration policies, vowing to build a wall, paid for by Mexico “They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to pay for it.”

The Republican’s policy even kept the “deportation task force” within U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement that would include a tripling of enforcement officers and the hiring of 5,000 more border patrol agents The new task force, he explained, would be “focused on identifying and quickly removing the dangerous criminal illegal immigrants in America who have evaded justice, just like Hillary Clinton has evaded justice. “Maybe, they’ll be able to deport her,” Trump said.

The only think that could possibly seen as a flip-flop is that Trump doesn’t plan to deport the illegals who haven’t committed crimes other than the fact that they entered the country illegally, until he gets rid of the multi-crime Illegal aliens.  That is an change that will leave him open for criticism. But Trump did say they are going:

In a Trump Administration, all immigration laws will be enforced. As with any law enforcement activity, we will set priorities. But, unlike this Administration, no one will be immune or exempt from enforcement – and ICE and Border Patrol officers will be allowed to do their jobs. Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation – that is what it means to have laws and to have a country.

And

For those here today illegally who are seeking legal status, they will have one route and only one route: to return home and apply for re-entry under the rules of the new legal immigration system that I have outlined above. Those who have left to seek entry under this new system will not be awarded surplus visas, but will have to enter under the immigration caps or limits that will be established.

Based on the two quotes above the omission may be a result of the change in tone as opposed to a change in policy.

Rather than the blanket Muslim ban he first proposed, Trump spoke of being choosy about who we let in the country based on the country the immigrant originated from, and whether or not we believe they are willing to assimilate.

It is not certain how he intends to determine if people are willing to be assimilated.

We also have to be honest about the fact that not everyone who seeks to join our country will be able to successfully assimilate. It is our right as a sovereign nation to choose immigrants that we think are the likeliest to thrive and flourish here.
(…) As soon as I enter office, I am going to ask the Department of State, Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to begin a comprehensive review of these cases in order to develop a list of regions and countries from which immigration must be suspended until proven and effective vetting mechanisms can be put into place.

As far as the MSM reaction to the speech it’s what one would expect, Ann Coulter who believes that illegal immigration is the biggest issues facing America was hyperbolic in her praise:

Misusing the English language, Dana Milbank took a break from his ridiculous mission to prove Ted Cruz is anti-Semitic, and described Trump’s speech as reverting “to his xenophobic self.” The definition of xenophobia is “intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries.” Mr. Trump introduced a host of people related to murder victims of illegal immigrants. Therefore, Trump’s words were very rational, and Milbank’s words (as usual) were nothing but slander.

Perhaps the best reaction to Trump’s speech was that of NY Times reporter Patrick Healy, whose journalistic malfeasance was pointed out by Vox News’ Matthew Yglesias

In the Trump’s speech was the second half of what may be his best day on the general election season. He looked presidential in meeting with the Mexican president earlier in the day, polls came out showing that the race is tightening, and he gave an immigration speech which disappointed the main stream media, because there were no flip-flops.

If Trump continues to have days like Thursday, the media predictions of a Clinton landslide, or a simple Clinton victory will be remembered as nothing but wishful thinking on their parts.s.

For those who missed it on Thursday, below is a video of the Trump immigration speech