Pelosi, Warren, Other Dems Hail Judge's Decision Ordering Trump Admin to Restore DACA

After a federal judge in New York restored the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Friday, Democratic politicians praised the decision, after President Donald Trump tried to stop the program three years ago.

DACA protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, called "Dreamers." Those that are part of the program are eligible for work permits and deferring deportation for a renewable two-year period.

The New York Times reported that the ruling by Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis of the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn could make up to 300,000 new people eligible for the program. A July memo by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf had set different limits on the program, only allowing those who had already applied use the benefits and shortening the term to one year.

"The court believes that these additional remedies are reasonable," Garaufis said, according to The Washington Post. "Indeed, the government has assured the court that a public notice along the lines described is forthcoming."

The ruling also ordered the DHS to make a public announcement about the program by Monday.

The decision comes less than 50 days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. On his campaign website, Biden had said he would reinstate DACA once in office.

With the ruling, a number of Democratic politicians showed support for the ruling. In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DACA's original instatement under President Barack Obama's administration in 2012 "a momentous step for equality and opportunity" and said the ruling "upheld this bedrock initiative, which respects our American values and the will of the American people." She also promised further protection for Dreamers under Biden's administration.

"Dreamers need and deserve real, permanent action to ensure that they can continue to contribute to our nation. In the 117th Congress, our Democratic House Majority will once again pass bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers, which will be signed into law by the Biden-Harris Administration. We call on Congressional Republicans to end their eighteen month-long obstruction of legislation to protect Dreamers, and listen to the overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans calling for its passage," Pelosi wrote.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, New York Senator Chuck Schumer and other Democrats also celebrated the decision. "Congratulations to Everyone who fought their hearts out for this victory," she tweeted.

Despite an overwhelming amount of support for the ruling, a few Republicans spoke out against it. Lauren Witzke, a Republican who ran for the Senate seat in Delaware in November, tweeted her disapproval. "DACA is Illegal immigration. Any member of the @SenateGOP who supports amnesty is a traitor to our country," she wrote.

In an emailed statement to Newsweek, DHS spokesperson Chase Jennings said the department opposes the ruling.

"DHS wholly disagrees with this decision by yet another activist judge acting from his own policy preferences. Judge Garaufis's latest decision, similar to his earlier inaccurate ruling, is clearly not sound law or logic. We will abide by this decision while we work with DOJ on next steps to appeal," he said in a statement.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Immigrants and Customs Enforcement for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Updated December 6, 2020, at 9:57 AM ET, to include a statement from DHS.