Donald Trump campaign signals shift on immigration stance

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses a campaign event at Fredericksburg Expo Center August 20, 2016, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. (AFP photo)

The new campaign manager of US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has signaled important changes in the billionaire’s controversial policy on immigration.

Trump has vowed to deport 11 million undocumented workers from the United States and would establish a “deportation force” for this purpose, and would construct a wall on the US-Mexican border to prevent Mexicans from entering America.

Many people have denounced Trump’s proposals as inhumane and too expensive and unrealistic to achieve.

Trailing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in national opinion polls, Trump has tried to rearrange his campaign, and made efforts in recent days to reach out to African-American and Hispanic voters.

In an interview on Sunday with CNN, his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said Trump was committed to a "fair and humane" approach to illegal immigrants.

"What he supports is to make sure we enforce the law, we are respectful of those Americans who are looking for well-paying jobs and that we are fair and humane to those who live among us in this country," Conway said.

New Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway

Conway said that the creation of a "deportation force" for those living in the country illegally under a Trump administration was "to be determined."

A close ally of Trump, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, also said on Sunday that Trump was still working through his plans for mass deportations should he win the November election.

"He's wrestling with how to do that. People that are here unlawfully, came into the country against our laws, are subject to being removed. That's just plain fact," he said. "He's thinking that through."

Trump, who has never held elected office, has won the Republican nomination despite the fact that his campaign has been marked by controversy from the beginning.

He has also proposed to impose a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslims seeking to enter the country, but later rolled back to focus on countries with "a proven history of terrorism."

On Thursday, Trump apologized for his controversial comments that "may have caused personal pain.”

The former reality TV star said that he realized that his remarks, which have angered minorities and alienated large swaths of American voters, may have been ill-advised.

"Sometimes in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. I have done that," Trump said at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"And believe it or not, I regret it, and I do regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain," he added.