Donald Trump and John Kasich rumble over immigration at GOP debate


At Tuesday's Fox Business GOP presidential debate, Maria Bartiromo pitched a softball to Donald Trump, asking him if he was a fan of a federal appellate court's ruling against President Obama's plan to shield some illegal immigrants from deportation, and then what he would do about illegal immigration. He reiterated that he would build a "successful" wall between the U.S. and Mexico and deport every illegal immigrant. "They'll have to go out, and they'll come back, but they're going to have to go out, and hopefully they get back," Trump said.
Neil Cavuto tried to pass the question to Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), but Ohio Gov. John Kasich jumped in. Kasich said that the U.S. needs to control its borders, "but if people think we are going to ship 11 million people who are law-abiding, who are in this country, and somehow pick them up at their house, and ship them out to Mexico? Think about the families! Think about the children." Kasich said the idea that the U.S. can deport 11 million immigrants is "a silly argument, it's not an adult argument. It makes no sense."
Trump responded with a jab at Ohio's economy and a story about President Dwight D. Eisenhower moving 1.5 million illegal immigrants out of the U.S. repeatedly, until they were so far south they couldn't get back. The moderators tried to pass the conversation to Jeb Bush, but Kasich jumped back in to defend Ohio's diversified economy, giving Trump his biggest applause line of the exchange: "You should let Jeb speak." When Bush did speak, he sided with Kasich and said "they're doing high-fives in the Clinton headquarters" because of all the Republicans pushing deportation. Watch Trump and Kasich spar below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein