NEW YORK - Protests against the outcome of the 2016 election continue in major cities across the U.S. as President-elect Donald Trump begins to select key members for his White House staff and prepare policy.

In his first extensive interview since becoming President-elect, Trump appeared to back away from his hard-line campaign promise of a wall along the Mexican border and deportations.

The Republican said he plans to deport or incarcerate 2.3 million people who have criminal records and are living in the U.S. illegally.

"What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people, probably two million, it could be even three million, we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate. But we're getting them out of our country, they're here illegally. After the border is secure and after everything gets normalized, we're going to make a determination on the people that they're talking about who are terrific people, they're terrific people but we are going make a determination at that — But before we make that determination — Lesley, it's very important, we are going to secure our border," Trump said.

When pressed about a solid border wall, Trump said he still plans to build it but appeared to be open to fencing as well.

"For certain areas I would, but certain areas a wall is more appropriate. I'm very good at this. This is called construction but a fence would be, yeah part wall, part fence," Trump said.

Trump also renewed his promise to cuts taxes, appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court, and take out the Islamic State militant group.

Before the "60 Minutes" interview aired, Trump's team made two major staffing announcements.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has been tapped for White House Chief of Staff.

Preibus has a strong knowledge of the Washington establishment and is a close friend of House Speaker Paul Ryan.

As Chief of Staff, Preibus will have a significant role in policymaking and serve as a liaison to Cabinet agencies.

Trump also announced that Stephen Bannon will serve as his chief strategist and senior counselor.

Bannon is an executive with the conservative Breitbart News organization and served as Trump's campaign CEO.

Immigrants and their supporters gathered in Manhattan on Sunday to protest Trump's policies.

Hundreds of people marched from the Trump International Hotel in Columbus Circle to Trump Tower to denounce the president-elect's proposed immigration crackdown.

The immigrant advocacy group, Make the Road NY, organized the "Here to Stay" march.  

"People have the right to stay here and just because they're immigrants doesn't mean they can't stay here. They have not done nothing wrong to him or to anybody. And we all have the right to stay here no matter what color or race, we're all equal," said one protester.

"It's everything. It's sexism, it's racism for sure. It's you know, class. I think he represents everything that's sort of important in America," said another protester.

Anti-Trump demonstrations have been taking over the streets of Manhattan since the election last Tuesday.