That Time Donald Trump Had A Meeting With DREAMers And Said "You Convinced Me" On Immigration

BuzzFeedNews ^ | 8/26/2015 | Adrian Carrasquillo

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Two years ago, Trump met with immigration activists who told them their stories and asked for his support on immigration. "You convinced me" Trump said as the meeting ended.

Donald Trump with Antonia Tijerino, Estuardo Rodriguez, and DREAMer activists at his office in 2013. Courtesy Estuardo Rodriguez

On an August day two years ago, Donald Trump was in a much different place: He was just a billionaire with the simple goal of connecting his beauty pageant business with the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Awards.

So at his New York penthouse office atop Trump Tower, he convened a meeting.

Trump ushered in a pair of men - one to talk about the awards and a Democratic strategist who works with nonprofits - and three young DREAMer activists. ...

But he also kept asking, "Can't you just become a citizen if you want to?" No, we can't the activists said, there's no process for that. Trump was reflective, the activists sad.

"You know, the truth is I have a lot of illegals working for me in Miami," he told them, using the term for undocumented immigrants those in the meeting found offensive.

...

"At the end of the day, what we're looking at is a value proposition for America," Tijerino said to Trump at the end of the meeting, referring to immigration legislation.

"You've convinced me," Trump said to the delight of the activists in the room.

"We all smiled at each other and said, 'Wow, we did it, we got this guy to change his mind," Pacheco said. Two years later they see a showman just playing to the crowd.

...

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I was thinking of writing you in, silverleaf.

Silverleaf 2016 Make America Use Sarcasm Tags Again

[GilGil]

Nice try but you are simply not convincing.

Republicans will break their promises even this time around. The voters don’t matter.

Trump could be a pleasant surprise and that is ok by me.

Republicans=democrats= all promises made will be broken.

So you see there is no downside to going with Trump.

[plain talk]

"You know, the truth is I have a lot of illegals working for me in Miami,” he told them, using the term for undocumented immigrants those in the meeting found offensive. “You know in Miami, my golf course is tended by all these Hispanics — if it wasn’t for them my lawn wouldn’t be the lawn it is; it’s the best lawn,” Pacheco recalled Trump saying. Trump said he knew the work of undocumented people is what makes his golf courses and hotels great.

“At the end of the day, what we’re looking at is a value proposition for America,” Tijerino said to Trump at the end of the meeting, referring to immigration legislation.

“You’ve convinced me,” Trump said to the delight of the activists in the room. "

[Erik Latranyi]

Republicans will break their promises even this time around. The voters don’t matter. Trump could be a pleasant surprise and that is ok by me.

You sound like a battered wife who just left her abusive husband and is getting involved with another smooth-talking guy. All her friends are warning her of the dangers and all she can say is: "So, you see, there is no downside to going out with him"

[Mr Apple]

There you go again Faire -consistently posting scarcastic , flat out rude and condescending comments to fr members:

*****
To: mmichaels1970

A traditional hit piece? Yawn.

Yeah, it’s either Trump is evolving or the media is using Trump’s words against him or “its all lies I tell you!” or its now a hit piece that we hear continually here at FR. LOL.

What next, aliens from outer space are invading the U.S.?

The excuses for continually drinking the Kool-Aid are getting rather laughable.

55 posted on August 28, 2015 at 10:41:56 AM CDT by Laissez-faire capitalist
*****

Faire, I've been here over seven years now and yes, I use some rough language, but always with ***'s and it's always directed at the characters in the threads, such as hillary or the scumbag, murdering, rapist illegals -but never directed personally to any posters as is the case with you. Faire, you post articles every morning and ping posters to come to read them. But then you are very sarcastic, flat out rude and consistently condescending to many of the very fr posters you ping to your threads. (and to boot, you use quotes from scripture hoping that by doing so it will dignify your crass statements). Why can't you simply give your responses in a friendly and respectful manner? Why do you act this way every day? Faire, my conclusion is that you are unstable my friend. Very much so.

[HoosierDammit]

The more I read these threads, the more I’m convinced that Trumpistas are like anti-GMO/anti-vaxxers - no matter how much evidence you present them, or how compelling that evidence is, it will not change their mind, and in fact it may them double down that much harder.

[Mr Apple]

Michaels, didn't know if you noticed, but faire triple posted his #54 comment to you. Perhaps he thought it might sting more that way. (anyway, if I don't have aliens climbing through my windows now, I'll get back to scrolling fr)

[HoosierDammit]

I prefer “Trumpista”. It fully captures the manic religious fervor you folks have, which is usually only found by supporters of Communist leaders in third world dictatorships.

[silverleaf]

I like the idea
I’ll have to consult my focus group

Meanwhile I will borrow Pat Pauson’s campaign slogan

I’ve Upped My Standards.
Up Yours.

[Mr Apple]

I agree. They will try to come across to their constituents that they did all the right things for America. Amazing cast of Republicans we have here.

[GilGil]

What an idiotic comparison.

The Republicans are frauds period. There is not one Republican you can point to that might be different. We just do not know.

You sound like an establishment Republican desperate for one more con.

[kingu]

Romney has never been for universal care for the entire country...

Romney very clearly explained it... I like mandates, the mandates work. So, maybe we're splitting hairs here. I don't think we are. I know there's never an end once a government program starts. Even though the federal courts have determined that the government can't take part of the raisin harvest from a program that started over half a century ago, the program still exists.

So really, I consider this a non-issue in my appraisal of the dangers of a Trump presidency. The House and Senate have very clearly shown that one of the most hated government programs in recent history is never going away.

[C. Edmund Wright]

you were missing my whole point.....and NO, mandates are not the same as universal care for an entire country. But again, you are missing my point and trying to make one about which we do not disagree.

[Duchess47]

Let’s see. You are taking the word of someone who says what Trump says as fact. FACT - Trump has no illegals working for him anywhere. The media has already searched high and low for that.

[Hoodat]

One would expect that Trump’s support of partial birth abortion would wake people up here. I cannot for the life of me understand why so many here at FreeRepublic are supporting a Democrat to win the GOP nomination.