Grady Judd doubles down on "path forward" for some undocumented immigrants

• Judd, who chairs the DeSantis Administration's State Immigration Enforcement Council, has supported mass deportation efforts that have netted thousands of people without criminal convictions or charges.

The intrigue: His comments also came a week after the White House privately urged House Republicans to stop emphasizing "mass deportations" and instead focus on deporting violent offenders.

• The advice "reflects growing concern among some Republicans that Democrats are successfully framing Trump's immigration policy as overly sweeping and indiscriminate," Axios' Kate Santaliz and Marc Caputo reported.

State of play: Judd on Tuesday lashed out at the news media, dismissing as hyperbole reports that he and fellow sheriffs on the state council had rebelled against state and federal immigration efforts.

• "We in fact support the mass deportation of illegal aliens, those that are criminals, those that have warrants of deportation, those that are creating havoc and problems," he said.
• "If you're here illegally, and you take that risk to be here illegally, then you're going to be deported."

Friction point: When asked whether he would use the word "amnesty" to describe his vision, Judd said no.

• Judd said some undocumented immigrants shouldn't be deported if they pay a fine, learn English and show "evidence of positive community integration into our society."
• Eligible immigrants would not have a criminal history or be on government assistance, Judd said.

The bottom line: "I'm not using any words other than a path forward for those that are ... adding to the economic value, the social value, the cultural value" of the U.S., Judd said.