Bernie Sanders' immigration plan calls for DACA expansion, 'breaking up' ICE and CBP


Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) immigration plan doesn't have a lot of surprises.
The 2020 candidate has pushed for a progressive immigration agenda throughout his presidential run, campaigning on a promise to decriminalize illegal border crossings and expand DACA protections. Those, along with a complete rejection of President Trump's immigration policies, take shape in Sanders' plan for "a welcoming and safe America for all" unveiled Thursday.
Sanders' plan starts with a bold pledge for the first day of his presidency: He'll "overturn all of President Trump's actions to demonize and harm immigrants," his plan says. That includes a promise to end "the barbaric practice of ripping children from their parents and locking children in cages," and to "thoroughly audit and close detention centers." Next up will be a look at what causes people to take risky journeys to the U.S. in the first place, with Sanders calling for a "summit of leaders from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and other countries to address the root causes of migration."
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Sanders then goes on to describe more priorities that'll take a bit more time to accomplish, including an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents programs. And while he stops short of a full call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, he does say he'll "break up" those agencies.
Find all of Sanders' plan here.
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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
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