Jeffries Vows ‘Remedial Assistance’ for Immigrants Affected by Trump Crackdown

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that his party would push to provide “remedial assistance” to immigrants he says have been treated unfairly under the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

Speaking in a PBS interview, Jeffries was asked whether he would support bringing back DACA recipients affected by the administration’s crackdown. He responded by broadening his answer to include others he believes have been wrongly targeted.

“Certainly anyone, whether they are a citizen, whether they were here lawfully, whether there are DACA recipients [who have] been treated unfairly and unjustly by the administration, we need to provide remedial assistance to them and undo the damage that’s been done to the country, to law-abiding immigrant families, and to the American people over this last 20 months or so,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries, who has said he hopes to become House Speaker next year, made the comments after the interviewer noted that President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to work with Democrats following the party’s gains in both chambers last week.

Jeffries pivoted to affordability, pointing to a recent bipartisan housing bill as evidence of his party’s priorities.

“That’s housing, that’s healthcare, that’s groceries, that’s gas, that’s caregiving, and making this country affordable again for everyone,” he said.

The remarks drew swift criticism from the White House. Spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital, “Democrats show time and time again with their extremist, anti-American policies that they care more about illegal aliens than U.S. citizens.”

Democratic strategist Julian Epstein also pushed back on Jeffries’ comments, suggesting they signal a return to positions that cost the party politically in the past.

“Democrats are falling back into the extremist open border trap. I’m still yet to hear concrete plans on making housing, energy, and healthcare more affordable. But the incoming speaker seems to have very specific plans on how to provide more welfare for illegal immigrants. No one wants to see violent deportations, but 80% of voters opposed the Biden immigration fiasco and nearly that many oppose amnesty,” Epstein wrote. “The fact that Jeffries has specific ideas about monetary handouts for illegals without any specific ideas about how to alleviate housing and energy costs is a sign of priorities out of whack.”