I’ve always thought that “deport 11 million” is his opening bid of a negotiation with congress. Very little is happening without congress. He can do some things as president but real immigration reform needs congress. And congress (dems and repubs) are going to be negotiating very hard to minimize deportations and maximize citizenship. I feel pretty good about Trump starting with an extreme position then negotiating the best deal for all current citizens and not for immigrants and future citizens.
I also think his preference is to “deport 11 million”. If he can make it happen it will. But if not he can give some. One complaint I hear in person about him is that he won’t give on his extreme positions and he is an authoritarian with a my way or the highway approach. I can’t change people’s minds but maybe the New York Times can release the audio and get Trump a few more votes.
The issue for me is that we're told we have to accept all of Trump's non-conservative positions because he's so unique on immigration. But I think that when push comes to shove, Trump's immigration plan (if enacted) will have few if any differences to the ones Cruz or Rubio would enact. Congress simply won't pass anything more severe.
So I worry we're going to get the same immigration plan, plus ethanol subsidies, no entitlement reform, opposition to Citizens United, and all the other Trump baggage.
Spent yesterday telling some hard core lefty relatives terrified of Trump that they might be pleasantly surprised at the difference between what he's promising to excite primary voters, and what he actually ends up delivering.