President Donald Trump calling his own deportations too tough is news many immigrant families read with hope this weekend. At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. The first thing to understand is that this is a statement in an interview, not a change in the law.
Here is what we know, what we do not, and what you can do.
Deportations Too Tough? What Trump Said
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, published on November 8, 2026, correspondent Ross Douthat asked whether his deportation policy had gone too far. “So I think it was too tough,” Trump said, according to CBS News. It was his first television interview since the November 3 midterm elections, in which his party lost control of both chambers of Congress.
Trump defended his record, saying he deserved an “A+ for closing up the border” and “very high marks for getting the bad ones out.” But he added, “I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs.” According to CBS, he pointed to people who had been in the country for a decade or more and said some should be allowed to stay if they are good, working people and, in some cases, paying taxes.
He also said he would “love to do something on immigration” with Democrats, who take control of Congress next year. He gave no details about what such a deal would look like.
What Is the Administration Saying About ICE Operations?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is sending a different message. On November 4, the day after the election, Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted on X: “Deportations will continue,” according to Univision.
On November 8, CBS reported, citing several officials, that the administration is not expected to scale back Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. According to that report, DHS and ICE had received no instructions to slow down, and White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said the administration “will not slow down its efforts to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens.” CBS also noted that Trump named Stephen Miller, widely seen as a chief architect of his immigration policy, as White House chief of staff.
In short, there are two messages at once: a president who admits the policy may have been too tough and says he is open to negotiating, and an administration that says operations remain unchanged.
Is This an Amnesty or a New Protection?
No. As of today, there is no executive order, deportation pause, amnesty or new category of protection resulting from this interview. CBS said it is unclear whether the administration will change its enforcement strategy. Words on television do not change immigration law or stop a case in immigration court.
An immigration deal with Democrats would have to pass Congress as a bill and be signed by the president, a process that usually takes months, if it happens at all. With the new Congress, Democrats will also be able to oversee DHS through hearings and budgets, as we explained in our article on the Democratic investigation into ICE. But none of that changes your situation today.
If someone offers to file “Trump’s new amnesty” for you or charges you to sign up for a program that does not exist, be careful. Scams by notarios and fake immigration consultants tend to rise right after headlines like this one.
What Can You Do Today?
What remains in place are the forms of relief that already exist under the law. Some people with many years in the U.S. may qualify, for example, for cancellation of removal before a judge, which generally requires 10 years of continuous presence, good moral character and exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent or child. Every case is different.
- Do not rely on headlines: wait for a published rule, order or law, and talk to an attorney before making decisions.
- Keep attending your appointments: missing an immigration court hearing can lead to a deportation order in absentia; also show up for your ICE check-ins.
- Review your relief options: asylum, cancellation of removal, a U visa, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or a family petition may apply depending on your history.
- Keep your documents in order: save proof of your years in the country, your employment and your tax returns; they may help in a case.
- Know your rights: you can remain silent and do not have to sign anything without first talking to an attorney.
Protect Your Immigration Status with Campos Law Firm
When the messages are mixed, having the right information is your best tool. Our team of immigration attorneys can review your case, tell you honestly what options you have today and let you know if something truly changes. We do not make unrealistic promises.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
With information from the network CBS News, its report on ICE operations, the network Telemundo and the network Univision.
