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Donald Trump signals drastic shift on immigration as he addresses Congress for first time Donald Trump signals drastic shift on immigration with move to allow some undocumented migrants to stay in America
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump is preparing to give his first address to Congress, as details emerged of a plan by the President to water down his hardline stance on immigration by allowing some undocumented migrants the right to stay in America. Donald Trump's hardline stance on immigration looks set to be drastically softened after it emerged he was considering allowing some undocumented migrants the right to stay in America.
After a turbulent five-and-a-half weeks in the White House, Mr Trump will go before senators and representatives to put flesh on the bones of his agenda for the next 12 months. Hours before the speech to US lawmakers, Mr Trump signalled he was willing to change direction on his policy towards undocumented migrants. 
The economy, defence and healthcare are expected to feature heavily in a speech that will be watched closely for details.
Hours before the speech to US lawmakers, Mr Trump signalled he may be willing to soften his stance on immigration. 
During a lunch with journalists, he said he was willing to "compromise" on a new immigration bill, which could include legalisation for some of the estimated 11 million people living in the US illegally.During a lunch with journalists, he said he was willing to "compromise" on a new immigration bill, which could include legalisation for some of the estimated 11 million people living in the US illegally.
Reports suggested it could also lead to citizenship for the "Dreamers" — people brought to the US illegally as children. Reports suggested it could also lead to citizenship for the "Dreamers" — people brought to the US illegally as children. 
He is expected to say: "By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone." During the speech to Congress, he said: "By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone."
Mr Trump will also use the address to call for a major increase in military spending, and outline a plan he says will boost job growth while tightening border security. Mr Trump also used the address to call for a major increase in military spending, and outlined a plan he said would boost job growth while tightening border security.
His much-anticipated joint session address, expected to last for more than an hour, is also expected to touch on the thorny issue of how he plans to repeal and replace Obamacare. His much-anticipated joint session address, which lasted for more than an hour, also touched on the thorny issue of how he plans to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The White House and Congress lack agreement on how to reform the US healthcare system, amid signs of growing Republican division on the issue.The White House and Congress lack agreement on how to reform the US healthcare system, amid signs of growing Republican division on the issue.
His advisers say parts of the prime-time speech will offer Mr Trump a chance to defend his early executive actions. He said: "Tonight, I'm also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower cost and, at the same time, provide better health care.
In pre-released excerpts of the speech to Congress, he said: "Tonight, I'm also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower cost and, at the same time, provide better health care.
"Mandating every American to pay government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for America."Mandating every American to pay government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for America.
"The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that's what we'll do.""The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that's what we'll do."
As speculation mounts that Mr Trump will call on congress to back a new immigration bill, a senior White House official confirmed the issue may be raised during Mr Trump’s address, but did not give details about what specific measures it would include. As speculation mounts that Mr Trump will call on congress to back a new immigration bill, a senior White House official confirmed the issue may be raised during Mr Trump’s address, but did not give details about what specific measures it would include. 
The White House would not expand on Mr Trump's comments beyond spokeswoman Sarah Sanders saying that the president was "open to having conversations about that moving forward".The White House would not expand on Mr Trump's comments beyond spokeswoman Sarah Sanders saying that the president was "open to having conversations about that moving forward".
It follows a major setback for the Trump administration after moves aimed at restricting arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries were blocked by a federal appeals court.It follows a major setback for the Trump administration after moves aimed at restricting arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries were blocked by a federal appeals court.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that the theme of the address would be “the renewal of the American spirit” and would focus on “public safety, including defence, increased border security, taking care of our veterans, and then economic opportunity, including education, job training, healthcare reform, jobs, and tax and regulatory reform”.White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that the theme of the address would be “the renewal of the American spirit” and would focus on “public safety, including defence, increased border security, taking care of our veterans, and then economic opportunity, including education, job training, healthcare reform, jobs, and tax and regulatory reform”.
White House officials have already revealed some details about the spending plans of the nascent Trump administration.  Among the others proposals unveiled by the Trump team on Tuesday was a plan to cut diplomacy and foreign aid budgets by 37 per cent to help pay for increased military spending.
Among them is a plan to cut diplomacy and foreign aid budgets by 37 per cent to help pay for increased military spending.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, said the speech was "an opportunity for the people and their representatives to hear directly from our new President about his vision and our shared agenda".Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, said the speech was "an opportunity for the people and their representatives to hear directly from our new President about his vision and our shared agenda".
The White House said in a statement Mr Trump would “communicate his vision for the future of the country directly to the American people as he moves forward with his plans to take on the many challenges facing this nation”.The White House said in a statement Mr Trump would “communicate his vision for the future of the country directly to the American people as he moves forward with his plans to take on the many challenges facing this nation”.
The speech is not a State of the Union address, as a President must have been in office for a year before they can deliver one. 
But with millions of Americans tuning in, it will be a chance to address deep concerns about his administration among vast swathes of the American public, reflected in his tumbling approval ratings. 
Just 44 per cent of Americans approve of his job performance, according to the latest poll for NBC News and the Wall Street Journal.