House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday that people he believes were treated unfairly under the Trump administration’s immigration policies should receive “remedial assistance.”
Asked in a PBS interview whether he would support bringing DACA recipients back to the United States amid the administration’s immigration crackdown, the New York Democrat said help should be available to citizens, people who were in the country legally, and DACA recipients who had been treated unjustly.
Jeffries said he also wanted to reverse what he described as damage to the country, law-abiding immigrant families and Americans over roughly the past 20 months. He is seeking to become House speaker in the next Congress.
The interviewer noted that President Donald Trump had expressed a desire to work with Democrats after their recent victories gave them majorities in both chambers. Jeffries pointed to a bipartisan housing affordability bill and said Democrats were focused on lowering the cost of living, including housing, health care, groceries, fuel and caregiving.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis criticized the Democrats’ position, saying their policies showed greater concern for undocumented immigrants than for U.S. citizens.
Democratic strategist Julian Epstein also faulted Jeffries, arguing that the party was returning to familiar positions instead of delivering on its affordability promises. Epstein said he had yet to hear specific plans to reduce housing, energy and health care costs, but believed Jeffries had outlined plans for additional assistance to undocumented immigrants.
Epstein added that while voters did not want violent deportations, many opposed the Biden administration’s immigration policies and amnesty. He argued that Jeffries’ focus on financial aid for undocumented immigrants, without comparable proposals on housing and energy costs, reflected misplaced priorities.
