Trump Acknowledges Some Deportation Operations Have Been Too Harsh

US President Donald Trump has signalled a possible reassessment of some aspects of his administration's strict immigration policy, acknowledging that efforts to deport undocumented immigrants from the United States have been excessively harsh in certain cases.

In an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, Trump said his party's immigration policy had brought both political benefits and setbacks.

He highlighted stronger border security as one of his administration's major achievements, claiming that the government had performed well in deporting criminals and controlling illegal border crossings.

However, he expressed reservations about deporting many immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for years. Trump noted that many people employed in hotels, restaurants, cleaning services and landscaping have long contributed to the US economy. Their only offence, he said, was entering the country without legal documentation.

He also acknowledged that there are differing opinions within American society over a policy that seeks to deport all such immigrants.

During the interview, Trump said he was interested in reaching an agreement with Democrats on immigration. He particularly raised the possibility of developing an acceptable arrangement for people who have lived and worked in the United States for 10 to 15 years.

Immigration policy emerged as a significant liability for Republicans in the midterm elections. CBS News' exit polling also indicated voter dissatisfaction with the government's tough stance on immigrants.

However, it remains unclear whether Trump's remarks will lead to any concrete changes in the administration's immigration policy.