Speaking to CNN, Ryan said securing the border between the US and Mexico, not rounding up illegal immigrants, will be a Trump administration priority.
"We are not planning on erecting a deportation force. Donald Trump’s not planning on that," Ryan said.
When pressed on what the administration might turn to in its second, third or fourth years, Ryan insisted, "That's not what we're focused on. We're focused on securing the border. We think that's first and foremost, before we get into any other immigration issue – we've got to know who's coming and going in the country. We've got to secure the border."
That will be a "first priority" when Trump takes office in January, Ryan said.
Last November, Trump told MSNBC, "You're going to have a deportation force, and you're going to do it humanely," suggesting he'd use a policy similar to the one used by President Dwight Eisenhower used to deport 1.5 million people by dropping them off in remote areas – and which also killed many. He repeated the claim during the Republican debate the same week.
Ryan, who was slow to warm to Trump but ultimately endorsed him as the GOP candidate, has said in the past that illegal immigrants in America should be given a path to earn legal status while efforts were made to prevent further illegal immigration.
He also began the interview by saying he hoped Americans would be at ease with the new administration.
"America is a pluralistic, inclusive country – it is, it has been and it will continue to be," Ryan said.
