Kevin McCarthy: We Will Find Common Ground on Securing Border

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday said Republicans and Democrats will find common ground on securing the U.S. border.

During an interview on "CBS This Morning," the California Republican said deporting illegal immigrants who have felonies on their records is "not a new law," it's "upholding current law."

Show host Charlie Rose asked him to confirm a number for the deportations, and McCarthy said, "There's a lot of different numbers out there. I don't know the exact number. We would look."

He then emphasized the importance of deporting those with major criminal records. "Somebody has broken a major felony — do you still want them in the country when they broke the law to come in in the first place?" McCarthy asked. 

McCarthy also weighed in on the appointment of Steve Bannon as Trump's chief strategist. Bannon previously ran Breitbart News, which Rose said had been criticized for promoting white nationalism.

Bannon was running Trump's campaign and had no control over the site's content, according to McCarthy. "I think you're putting a lot of things on that site onto Bannon, which he doesn't have control over."

Rose asked if "the alt-right" movement has "become a credible part of the Republican constituency, and with a voice now to be heard in Washington?"

McCarthy responded that Abraham Lincoln represents "the core" of the party and "that is what Republicans firmly believe, and always will believe."

"Fox News Sundays" host Chris Wallace also asked McCarthy about securing the border.

"You have to put up a wall, it could be all virtual with the UAV airplanes as well," said McCarthy. "But I think that is doable and one of the first things that needs to be done."

Regarding deportation, McCarthy said securing the border was the first priority, "then we'll have the discussions as we move forward."

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