Donald Trump's flip-flop on immigration is just a red herring

It's clear Trump will say just about anything. So don't listen to him. Listen to the people who'd write the law.

Trump's tug-of-war with his campaign.
(Image credit: AP Photo/John Locher)

Is Donald Trump actually moving to the center on immigration? In the last few days Trump has seemed to take multiple positions, particularly on whether he will or won't deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country once he's elected. Is he "softening" his stance to appeal to swing voters? Does he no longer support a "deportation force" to knock down doors and round up those 11 million? Could he actually be contemplating some sort of amnesty for those he sometimes refers to as "the good ones"?

If you're trying to figure that out, it's tempting to look at what Trump is saying as he talks to journalists and gives speeches. But that's the wrong way to answer the question.

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Paul Waldman

Paul Waldman is a senior writer with The American Prospect magazine and a blogger for The Washington Post. His writing has appeared in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and web sites, and he is the author or co-author of four books on media and politics.