Outgoing White House Chief of Staff John Kelly says he has "nothing but compassion" for undocumented migrants crossing into the U.S.
He also undercut President Trump's claims to be building a wall at the Mexico border.
In an interview with the LA Times published Sunday, Kelly said "illegal immigrants, overwhelmingly, are not bad people."
President Trump, on numerous occasions, has described migrants as criminals and terrorists.
Kelly also said Trump backed away from the notion of a solid concrete wall early on in the administration, adding the president has recently tended towards steel slats.
This is the first admission from Trump's inner circle that the president's signature campaign pledge would not be fulfilled as promised.
President Trump is at loggerheads with the Democrats over funding for the wall, which has led to a partial U.S. government shutdown.