Yes, touchback is amnesty. He hasn’t clearly said such as Rubio or Jeb! that he’d offer amnesty (then leading to citizenship) for all those who haven’t otherwise been convicted of separate felonies.
But I think the history here makes it legitimate for us to question anyone who specifies “expediting” a return of illegals who otherwise, as I presume you know, wouldn’t be eligible to return at all.
Maybe he’s downplaying whom he’d keep out, but the way he has also gone on to talk about them doing jobs we need them for, Americans don’t want to do, etc., makes me believe he’s in like with the standard NYC GOP (other than Staten Island Republicans) pro-amnesty position.
Trump isn't offering "touchback" amnesty ala Mike Pence. It isn't remotely close. I don't see how you can extrapolate an off the cuff remark as an amnesty proposal. See my post #162.
Any legislation that allows the lawbreakers to stay and work here is amnesty. Citizenship is just the cherry on top and not a prerequisite to be called amnesty. Legalization is amnesty.
But I think the history here makes it legitimate for us to question anyone who specifies “expediting†a return of illegals who otherwise, as I presume you know, wouldn’t be eligible to return at all.
I am not defending Trump's statement. I believe it was a misstatement and not a matter of policy. He was trying to link it to legal immigration saying that they must come in legally. Unless he states that the rules will be changed to allow expedited return, then it really is a non-statement. FWIW, 60% of the green cards issued in the US each year are based on a change of status. This means that people are here under another status, including in some cases illegal, and they are being legalized. I won't go into the many ways you can change status, but there could be individual cases where someone is deported and allowed back in due to their unique circumstances.
Maybe he’s downplaying whom he’d keep out, but the way he has also gone on to talk about them doing jobs we need them for, Americans don’t want to do, etc., makes me believe he’s in like with the standard NYC GOP (other than Staten Island Republicans) pro-amnesty position.
His position paper says the exact opposite. It is all about protecting American workers. Immigration Reform That Will Make America Great Again
I would also note that recently Trump has reiterated his position that he wants to reduce legal immigration.
Cruz has promised not to increase legal immigration, not to reduce it.