White House open to legal status deal for long-term illegal immigrants after Trump comments

The White House on Monday refused to rule out a deal with Democrats on legal status for illegal immigrants living in the U.S. for over a decade, following President Trump's comments in a "60 Minutes" interview that drew backlash from his base. Trump, in his first interview since Republican midterm losses, said he was open to working on immigration, noting that some long-term illegal residents with jobs and tax payments should be allowed to stay. A White House official insisted Trump never used the word "amnesty" and said the administration wants Democrats to "show their cards." The comments sparked sharp criticism from immigration restrictionists, who warned such a deal would betray Trump's promises of mass deportations and hurt the Republican Party. Rep. Maria Salazar praised the remarks, linking them to her Dignity Act proposal.