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RNC Chair Priebus: You'll Know Trump's Immigration Policy 'Very Soon'

RNC Chair Reince Priebus tells 'Meet the Press' that Trump will make immigration policy clear 'very soon.'
Image: RNC in Cleveland 2016
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus speaks during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 21, 2016.MICHAEL REYNOLDS / EPA

After a week of different statements and positions on immigration, where does Donald Trump stand on the issue?

According to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, we’re going to find out "shortly."

"Now he’s reflecting on it and his position is going to be known," Priebus told NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

While he wouldn't specify a date, Priebus said, "You're going to find out from Donald Trump very shortly. He's going to be giving prepared remarks on this issue I think very soon.”

At one point in the last week, Trump said a "softening" of his stance on immigration was possible. At another point, he live-polled a town hall audience over what his policy should be. In another appearance, he focused on "swiftly removing criminal illegal immigrants" on Day 1 of his presidency.

While Priebus made it clear that "I just don’t speak for Donald Trump," he outlined some of what he thinks will be included in Trump’s position.

Related: Mike Pence: Some Undocumented Immigrants Can Stay — After They Leave

"His position is going to be tough, his position is going to be fair, but his position is going to be humane. He is going to build and complete the border wall that was set in place in 2006 by Congress — it's going to be paid for," said Priebus. "I believe that he is going to, when he talks about deportation, he's going to go after people who are here and are criminals and shouldn't be here."

Pressed on who Trump would define as a "criminal," Priebus said, "Those are the things that Donald Trump is going to answer."

Priebus ducked a question over whether Trump would continue is call to end birthright citizenship, saying, "You’re going to have to ask him."

And although he is personally "comfortable with the Supreme Court rulings" on birthright citizenship guaranteed in the 14th Amendment, Priebus noted that "a nominee doesn’t have to adopt every single position and platform of the Republican Party."

Explaining potential changes to Trump previous immigration plan, Priebus said, "as you get closer to the White House, a degree of humanity and decency is part of every decision that needs to be made.”

At the same time that Priebus was describing Trump as "reflecting" on his immigration stance, Trump’s running mate, Gov. Mike Pence, was telling CNN’s "State of the Union" Sunday that Trump has been “absolutely consistent” in his position.

Pence continued, “There will be no path to legalization, no path to citizenship. People who want to gain legal status — you heard Donald Trump say again and again — will have to leave this country.”

Pence explained Trump’s recent comments by describing him as "a CEO at work ... listening to the American people, hearing from all sides."

Related: Donald Trump Could Win Big Even If He Loses Election

In his "Meet the Press" appearance, Priebus was asked about the recent changes in Trump's campaign leadership, including the promotion of pollster Kellyanne Conway to campaign manager and the hiring of Breitbart editor Steve Bannon as campaign CEO.

“I go with the flow based on what the campaign wants to do,” Priebus responded. “I think Kellyanne is doing a phenomenal job.”

However, controversy has already started to swirl around Bannon, who has been under recent scrutiny for a domestic violence charge in the ‘90s and whose ex-wife has accused him of making anti-Semitic remarks.

“I don’t know Steve Bannon, to tell you the truth, very well," Priebus said. "I’m going to get to know him.”

On the recent controversies swirling around Bannon, Priebus added, "I don’t know how much of it is true or not and neither do you ... I don’t speculate based on what other third parties say about people. I tend to judge people based on what I see and what I interact with."