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Trump Promises No Amnesty for Undocumented Immigrants Living in U.S.; Member of Trump's Hispanic Advisory Council Quits; FL Governor Talks Hurricane Preparedness. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired September 01, 2016 - 13:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[13:31:03] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump promising there will be no amnesty for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living here in the United States.

Today, I asked his vice presidential running mate, Governor Mike Pence, what that would mean for the children born in the United States to those undocumented immigrants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, (R), INDIANA GOVERNOR & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (voice-over): I think the law is very settled on that question for generations of natural-born American citizens. But I think what Donald Trump has talked about is the establishment of a new commission that will look at all of our immigration laws, including the whole question of anchor babies, and asking the question about what's in the of the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: With me here in Washington, 'CNN Politics" editor, Juana Summers; and associate editor and columnist for RealClearPolitics, A.B. Stoddard; and from Mexico City, Latin affairs political analyst, Anna Maria Salazar.

Ladies, thanks very much for joining us.

A quick reaction when he said it's settled law. Children here born in the United States, even if their parents are here illegally, they are U.S. citizens.

JUANA SUMMERS, CNN POLITICS EDITOR: Sure. I think that's a position that a lot of Republican whose are wary of Trump heard this tough rhetoric and would be heartened to hear. These are children, families being torn apart. That's one of the lines that could help Trump and Pence broaden the Republican base rather than appealing to the base of voters that has cleaved to them so far.

BLITZER: Amy, has that always been the position of Donald Trump, that it is, in fact, settled law?

A.B. STODDARD, ASSOCIATE EDITOR & COLUMNIST, REALCLEARPOLITICS.COM: Donald Trump has changed his immigration position several times. Last night's positions are the final ones for the rest of the campaign, we hope. It sounded open-ended. It sounded as if that a commission in the future would decide when the border was secured and enforcement was in place on a lot of issues that are for another day. I think it left it open-ended.

BLITZER: What's been the reaction, Anna Maria, in Mexico City, to this meeting, this very important widely discussed meeting yesterday between the Mexican president and Donald Trump?

ANNA MARIA SALAZAR, LATIN AFFAIRS POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think the reaction has been it was a disaster both for President Enrique Pena Nieto and for Donald Trump. What the president was trying to do is tell Donald Trump or convince Donald Trump that as the Mexican president he has to protect Mexicans not only in Mexico but also in the United States. That's where the immigration issue comes in. He didn't do -- the president didn't do a very good job at that. Then when this issue of the wall came up and who said what and when was it said, and then we had this tweeter war for about three or four hours, and then Donald Trump's speech in the United States, in Phoenix three hours later, in which he basically said that the president of Mexico would be supporting him in going after undocumented Mexicans in the United States, it was pretty much -- it was a disaster for President Pena Nieto. I have my doubt as to how useful this was for Donald Trump. I think they both got burned after this meeting.

BLITZER: Juana, we saw two very different tones from Donald Trump, during the meeting, after the meeting he had with the president of Mexico and the speech he delivered in Phoenix. Let me play these clips.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We did discuss the wall. We didn't discuss payment of the wall. That would be for later date. This was a very preliminary meeting. A lot of the things I said are very strong. But we have to be strong and we have to say what's happening.

And Mexico will pay for the wall.

(CHEERING)

TRUMP: They don't know it yet, but they're going to pay for the wall.

There is crime, as you know. There's a lot of crime and a lot of problems. But I think together we'll solve those problems.

Zero tolerance for criminal aliens. Zero. Zero.

(CHEERING)

TRUMP: Illegal immigration is a problem for Mexico as well as for us. Drugs are a tremendous problem for Mexico as well as us. It's not a one-way street. We will work together and we will get those problems solved. Within ICE, I am going to create a new special deportation task force

focused on identifying and quickly removing the most dangerous criminal illegal immigrants in America who have evaded justice, just like Hillary Clinton has evaded justice, OK?

(CHEERING)

TRUMP: Maybe they'll be able to deport her.

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[13:35:39] BLITZER: You saw the very different tones between those two appearances.

SUMMERS: Yes. It's hard to imagine those actually happened on the same day. You saw Trump, in the first part next to President Pena Nieto, seeming very presidential, very diplomatic and really embracing of the moment. Then you see him turning back to what has been at the bedrock of his campaign. The speech in Arizona reminded me of the speech he made when he launched his campaign where he made those remarks we've all heard, talking about how Mexicans are criminals and rapists coming over the border, that the tough-line rhetoric. I think that shows the tough spot Trump is in. Those comments basically rose him to the top of the Republican field. He is now his party's nominee. But if he wants to win in November, he has to not only hold on to voters who cleave to that kind of language, but he has to bring new voters into the fold, some of whom may not like the language, some of whom want to see a shift in tone, to appear like a serious presidential candidate who can handle global world affairs.

BLITZER: Earlier this morning, Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, he said that Trump choked during that meeting with the Mexican president. I'll play that clip again. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM KAINE, (D), VIRGINIA & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He didn't even have the nerve at the last minute to bring up this issue about the wall. This is the central piece of his campaign, immigration and deportation and we're going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. But when he looked President Pena Nieto in the eye, he couldn't even bring that up. That was a choked and I think it shows diplomacy is not for amateurs. Donald Trump is an amateur.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What is been the reaction to that, what Tim Kaine is saying, that he didn't have the guts to bring up what has been a central focus of his immigration plan, Mexico would pay for the wall?

STODDARD: The story coming from the president of Mexico is that he started the meeting off by saying himself, telling Donald Trump, by the way, we're not paying for your wall and it's not negotiable, and that Trump didn't engage on that issue. So when it came up in the questioning, and he said, yes, we discussed the wall. You saw that the Trump campaign didn't disagree with the version of the story that the Mexican president gave. Yeah, he didn't challenge him on the payment for the wall. And he gave a speech saying they're going to pay for the wall, 100 percent, they just don't know it yet. Donald Trump is very conflicted because he wanted -- he insisted the trip to Mexico happen right before his speech because he didn't want to be seen as backing down. That's why he wanted them to happen in the same day. With a lot of Trump rhetoric last night and a lot of voices and energy, he did step back on his former policy, which was a deportation force to remove 11 million undocumented people. Last night, he articulated the Obama policy, get rid of the criminals. He didn't say if you're illegal, you're going to be rounded up. He said you have to go if you want legalization. But he implied you can stay here. To some people, that's still amnesty. Actually there has been a retreat. And it shows how conflicted he is. He wants to use tone to shore up his base, but he's actually trying to change the policy somewhat to somewhere in the middle.

BLITZER: We'll continue our analysis.

Ladies, thanks for joining us.

Up next, strong reaction to Donald Trump's immigration plans. A member of the Hispanic Advisory Council is calling it quits. And he's not the only one. We'll ask why he decided to walk away from Donald Trump following his speech last night. Much more right after this.

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[13:43:22] BLITZER: Donald Trump has clarified his positions on immigration, positions he discussed with members of his Hispanic Advisory Council more than a week ago. But today, after hearing Donald Trump's immigration speech, some members of that council are breaking away.

Jacob Monty is an immigration attorney. Until yesterday, he was a member of Trump' Hispanic Council, but no longer.

Mr. Monty, thanks for joining us.

Why have you walked away from Donald Trump?

JACOB MONT, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY & FORMER MEMBER, DONALD TRUMP HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL: Let's be clear, not only was I a member of the committee. I was actively defending him on media, because I thought he heard us. We met with him a week and a half ago. He indicated he knew we needed to do something humane for the non- criminals that are here, the 11 million. He brought it up. That showed us that he had studied the issue. And we had a lot of hope. Frankly, we saw a lot of hope. He came down to Austin, engaged the crowd and got them to acknowledge that folks that have been here a long time that, have U.S. citizen kids, they deserve a chance to stay here in the U.S. We saw nothing but positive signs. And they were all dashed yesterday with a speech that was not Republican and not compassionate at all.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: What was the biggest concern you had with what he said last night?

MONTY: Well, there was a lot in there that we're all right with, that I'm all right with, E-verify, more security, better vetting, great; the wall, fine. We need more security. But when he called for the deportation of DOCA recipients, that's unrealistic, cruel, not productive for the economy because they're working and going to school. The biggest thing for me is when he completely punted on the issue of what to do with the 11 million when we discussed that with him. He acknowledged himself they are hard working immigrants, they are doing jobs that many U.S. workers aren't able to do because there's not enough U.S. workers or because they don't want to do the jobs, and he completely punted on that issue. When I saw that, I had to resign because I'm not going to be a prop for his image like the president of Mexico was yesterday.

[13:45:47] BLITZER: Do you expect more members of the council to abandon Donald Trump? And based on what you know right now, how many already have?

MONTY: It's a tough decision because I'm not supporting Hillary. Every one there was a Republican. It's a tough decision. I've resigned. I know other people have resigned. It's not a good feeling because the alternative is not much better, but I'm unwilling to be part of his propaganda machine. I resigned. It's something that -- it was the right thing to do. It was the right thing for me to do to try to see if we could reason with him and get him to articulate a plan that was realistic and Republican. What we heard last night was not a Republican plan. That was pure populist propaganda written by Fair and NumbersUSA. They're the one whose wrote that speech for him last night.

BLITZER: Do you think you can now support Hillary Clinton?

MONTY: I can't. She has no credibility on solving the immigration issue. I fear she'll use it as a political football when she wins. There are millions of Americans out there that don't like either choice. Me, I'm supporting other Republicans down-ballot and not voting for the top slot.

BLITZER: So if you could speak with Donald Trump today, what would be your bottom line word to him?

MONTY: You're a businessman. You know these are hard working people that do jobs that no one else is doing in America. Act like a businessman. That's why people are supporting you. That would be my main message.

BLITZER: Jacob Monty, thanks very much for joining us.

Coming up, hurricane warnings are posted. Florida bracing for a powerful storm barreling towards the coast. We also have new details of the projected path of Hermine and the potential impact it could have. We'll get a live update from the governor of Florida, Rick Scott. He's standing by.

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[13:51:56] BLITZER: Tropical Storm Hermine is picking up speed right now as it heads towards Florida's northern gulf coast. If the forecast holds, it could become a category 1 hurricane by the time it makes landfall early Friday.

We're joined on the phone by Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Governor, you're driving through Florida right now to help with the storm preps. You're very busy. Thanks very much for joining us.

You just received an update on the forecast. What's the latest information you're getting?

RICK SCOTT, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA (voice-over): Sure. We just received an update from the National Hurricane Center. This is clearly going to become a hurricane by landfall. We're already getting significant rain. We're going to see up to eight feet of storm surge. We've got six counties that are doing mandatory evacuations. We're going to see as much as 20 inches of rain. We're going to see a lot of downed trees, a lot of flooding. We're going to have a lot of wind. We have the chance for tornadoes.

My goal is to get all of our residents prepared. We have evacuations. Listen to the evacuations. I want everybody to take this seriously. We haven't had a hurricane in years. There are a lot of people who have moved to our state or maybe have forgotten what it is like, but we have got to take this very, very seriously. We have good emergency management teams. But we can't rescue anybody in the middle of the storm. Everybody's got to be prepared.

BLITZER: Where are you evacuating these people to, especially the elderly, the sick? What's going to happen to them?

SCOTT: So, Wolf, in every county we have shelters and so in every county you're able to go to a shelter that's in the same county. So you'll be able to -- if you're close to the coast, you'll be able to come in to a shelter. We've got shelters for everybody. We've got shelters for people with disabilities. We got shelters for pets. Go to Florida disaster.org/publicmapping. You can find shelters, you can find evacuation routes, you can find everything you want. Go to Floridadisaster.org. You can get all of this information.

I also will give everybody a number to get hold of our emergency team. It's 850-921-0217.

If anybody has a question, call their local sheriff, call their local emergency management team, to do everything they can. Because they're going to do everything they can to take care of you, but you have to take care of yourself.

BLITZER: This comes on the heels of the huge concern you have involving the Zika Virus down in Miami-Dade County, down in Miami Beach right now. There is a lot of concern with water buildup. That could be exacerbated right now. How concerned are you that this hurricane, this tropical storm, could make the Zika problem even worse?

SCOTT: Well, fortunately for us, the storm is in the northern part of the state. We have 46 cases of non-travel related Zika. They're all down in more southern parts of the states as a general rule. But -- we're encouraging everybody to get rid of standing water as soon as this storm is finished at their homes, as the their businesses, their parks, everywhere you can, get rid of any standing water so we have fewer mosquitoes. We are working hard with mosquito abatement.

But today, I'm spending my time talking to sheriffs and mayors and find out if there are any needs they have, and doing everything I can to get all of our residents and all of our visitors to take this very seriously. When you have storm surge like that -- and we know we're going to have flooding -- we've got to have everybody take this seriously.

BLITZER: Is FEMA, the federal government helping?

SCOTT: The Federal Emergency Center, FEMA, is here. But they come in after the fact. I have already reached out to members of the National Guard ready to be mobilized. You still need to preposition assets. So we are doing everything we can. FEMA will be a partner afterwards. But we're doing everything we can with our National Guard, our utilities, our local emergency management teams, our sheriffs' offices. We're getting it out to every person to take this seriously. We cannot save you during a storm.

BLITZER: Governor Scott, good luck to you and good luck to all the folks in Florida. We'll stay on top of this story.

Thanks very much for your information.

That's it for me. The news continues right after a very quick break.

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