Top House Dem sparks backlash with plan for deported Dreamers that goes beyond bringing them back

Hakeem Jeffries said he supports returning deported DACA recipients to the United States and providing “remedial assistance” to people he believes were treated unfairly. His remarks drew criticism from conservative commentators and social media users, who characterised the proposal as paying deported immigrants, although Jeffries did not say whether assistance would include compensation.

Jeffries described the immigration system as broken and called for comprehensive reform, saying enforcement should be fair, just and humane. DACA gives some immigrants brought to the country as children temporary protection from deportation and access to work authorisation, but not legal immigration status. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has separately said Congress could consider a route to permanent legal status for DACA recipients.