Illinois Democrats Say Don't Trust Trump To Soften Immigration Stance
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Even though Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump recently seems to have toned down his hard-line rhetoric on immigration, Illinois Democrats said he can't be trusted to soften his actual position.
State Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) said words from Trump and his campaign about creating a process for some undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S. are insincere at best.
"Donald Trump may not understand this, but his advisers understand that his hateful rhetoric is unacceptable to the American people, and he cannot be elected by the entire American public based upon the way he has talked about immigrants, about Mexican-Americans, about women," he said.
Most of Trump's talk about immigration has focused on building a large border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. He also has compared Mexican immigrants to criminals and rapists; and suggested banning Muslims form coming into the U.S., deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants, and establishing "extreme" ideological vetting of would-be migrants to defeat radical Islamic terrorism.
With the Trump Tower as a backdrop, Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza said you can't believe any signals from Trump that he's ready to change his position on undocumented immigrants.
"First of all, Donald Trump on any given day is going to completely contradict himself. We've seen him do that time and time again," she said.
Mendoza, a Democratic candidate for Illinois comptroller, said Trump supporters want the tough talk.
"Folks, don't be fooled. He says what he means. He hates immigrants. He distrusts and dislikes and disrespects women on a daily basis," she said.