Listen to What Trump is Really Saying About Immigration

SAN DIEGO -- I can't believe I'm saying this, but Donald Trump may be good for the immigration debate after all.

Trump is a refreshing change from those in both parties who are too afraid to speak the truth about the jobs done by illegal immigrants. Also, Trump doesn't let his opposition to illegal immigration interfere with his support for legal immigration.

When as many as 17 candidates gather this week for a pair of GOP presidential debates -- the main event at "The Donald Trump Debate," and an undercard matchup at the "kids' table" -- we are sure to hear a lot about Trump's views on immigration.

Yet those views are becoming more nuanced all the time.

In a recent interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Trump made the case that -- while he opposes illegal immigration -- he thinks legal immigration is good for the economy and the country.

In fact, in talking up foreign workers, he is more vocal than many Democrats. Bernie Sanders recently ruffled feathers in the pro-immigrant community when, during an interview with Vox.com, the Vermont senator criticized open borders.

"It would make everybody in America poorer," Sanders said. "You're doing away with the concept of a nation state, and I don't think there's any country in the world that believes in that. ... You have an obligation in my view to do everything we can to help poor people. What right-wing people in this country would love is an open-border policy. Bring in all kinds of people, work for $2 or $3 an hour, that would be great for them. I don't believe in that."

When a Democrat says these things, it should give pause to those in the immigration-reform community. This debate is more complicated than it seems.

Now listen to Trump.

"We have to bring great people into this country," he said during his CNN interview. "And I want to bring -- I love the idea of immigration. But it's got to be legal immigration."

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