President Donald Trump says his administration’s deportation push went too far and cost Republicans at the ballot box, and he is now signaling interest in an immigration deal with Democrats. The remarks, made in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday night, drew quick responses on Monday from Democratic leaders, who set out their terms, and from conservatives, who warned against any form of amnesty.
The comments come days after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats made large gains in Congress, and as lawmakers returned to Washington on Monday for a lame-duck session.
What the president said
Asked about his immigration enforcement overhaul, Trump said, “I think it was too tough,” and added that it ultimately hurt him, according to ABC News. He said the backlash came from the removal of immigrants who held jobs such as cleaners, waitresses and landscapers, while he defended his border security record and the removal of people he called the bad ones.
Trump said he would like to work with Democrats on immigration and floated a deal that could cover people who have lived in the United States for 10 to 15 years, ABC and OSV News reported. He said people had already called him about it but did not name anyone. Asked whether he could avoid insulting Democrats for six months to reach a deal, he said he could.
The interview came around the same time Trump named senior adviser Stephen Miller, widely seen as the main architect of the administration’s deportation policies, as White House chief of staff. Miller, after the announcement, praised the president for having “saved our border from annihilation,” Newsweek reported.
How Democrats responded
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said any talks should begin by restoring protections for young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as DACA, and for people with Temporary Protected Status, through the Dream and Promise Act, according to TIME. He described that as a foundation and said changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and an end to mass deportations should also be discussed.
Some Democrats said they want to see action before trusting the offer. An unnamed congressional source told TIME that slowing or pausing deportations would be one way for the administration to show it is serious. Rep. Robert Garcia, expected to lead the House Oversight Committee next year, said Miller’s role should be investigated, Newsweek reported.
How Republicans and conservatives responded
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration will not back a blanket amnesty but is open to changes involving programs such as DACA, TIME reported.
“I’ll be open to talk to anything.” — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, as quoted by TIME
The conservative House Freedom Caucus publicly opposed any amnesty effort. Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge now at the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors lower immigration levels, told TIME that Miller is unlikely to advise the president to sign what he called a bad bill or a sweeping amnesty. Supporters of strict enforcement credit the administration’s policies with sharply reducing illegal border crossings, a point Trump himself emphasized in the interview.
Background
Washington has tried and failed several times to pass major immigration legislation. A broad bipartisan bill in 2013 stalled in the House, and a 2018 framework from Trump that addressed DACA recipients also failed in the House, TIME noted.
According to Migration Policy Institute figures cited by OSV News, about 980,000 people were deported from January 2025 through July 2026. Faith-based advocates reacted cautiously. Kevin Appleby of the Center for Migration Studies expressed what he called healthy skepticism, while a Chicago priest told OSV News he was surprised and encouraged by the president’s tone.
What to watch next
- Whether the White House or congressional leaders announce any formal talks or a written proposal.
- Any change in enforcement practices on the ground, which Democrats say would be a test of seriousness.
- How a Democratic-led Congress, which takes over in January, approaches immigration alongside oversight of the administration.
- Immediate business in the lame-duck session, including a Dec. 11 government funding deadline, according to Spectrum News.
Upstormed News will follow this story as it develops.
Why it matters for families
Immigration policy touches millions of households, including mixed-status families, employers who depend on immigrant workers, and communities debating border security and public safety. Any deal, or the lack of one, could affect who is allowed to stay, work and reunite with relatives. For now, no agreement exists, and current rules remain in place.
Related coverage on Upstormed News: Trump Orders DOJ Probe of Democrats Over Alleged Threats; Slotkin Pushes Back and Dana White to Meet Trump Monday on Press Secretary Offer as Reports Conflict.
Read more: Massie Files 8 Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth, Setting Up House Vote
Do you think Republicans and Democrats can find common ground on immigration next year?
Sources: ABC News, “Trump says ‘too tough’ deportation policies hurt him in the midterms” (November 9, 2026); TIME, “Trump Opens the Door to an Immigration Deal. Democrats Want Proof He’s Serious” (November 9, 2026); Newsweek, “What Stephen Miller has said about immigration as Trump admits mistake” (November 9, 2026); OSV News, “Trump tells ’60 Minutes’ immigration policy ‘too tough,’ open to making a deal with Democrats” (November 9, 2026); Spectrum News, “Congress returns for lame-duck session as GOP faces shutdown deadline, Hegseth impeachment push” (November 9, 2026)
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