By Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com

Published: 09:50 EST, 24 October 2016 | Updated: 10:20 EST, 24 October 2016

Donald Trump said he 'DIDN'T believe' in deporting 'productive' illegal immigrants back in 2012

A 2012 interview with CNBC's the Squawk Box has been recovered

• In the audio, Trump said he does not believe in deporting illegal immigrants who have 'done a great job'[/*:m:vby5e35v]
• Trump catalyzed his presidential bid last year with the promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border[/*:m:vby5e35v]
• He said he plans on deporting all illegal immigrants with a criminal background [/*:m:vby5e35v]
• He previously said that upstanding illegal immigrants would have to leave the country in order to apply for a visa that would allow them to return[/*:m:vby5e35v]
• There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.[/*:m:vby5e35v][/list:u:vby5e35v]

The major focus of Donald Trump's campaign for president has been his tough stance on illegal immigrants.

But just three years before announcing his bid for the White House, the Donald didn't think kicking out all undocumented workers was such as good idea.

In a 2012 interview on CNBC's the Squawk Box, recently recovered by CNN, Trump said he didn't believe in a blanket deportation policy.

'You know my views on it and I'm not necessarily, I think I'm probably down the middle on that also.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABTu1kpLjg"]Trump on CNBC in June 2012 [/ame]

'Because I also understand how, as an example, you have people in this country for 20 years, they've done a great job, they've done wonderfully, they've gone to school, they've gotten good marks, they're productive - now we're supposed to send them out of the country, I don't believe in that, Michelle, and you understand that. I don't believe in a lot things that are being said,' Trump said.

The statements were in response to a question on a Supreme Court decision on an Arizona immigration law. While the court shot down many parts of the law as unconstitutional, the court upheld one part that allowed police to check the immigration status of a person while enforcing other laws.

read full article at source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3867348/In-2012-interview-Donald-Trump-said-didn-t-believe-deporting-productive-illegal-immigrants.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490