U.S. Congressman arrested at White House deportation protest

A ten-term Democratic U.S. Congressman was arrested in front of the White House Tuesday. It is the second arrest in roughly 14 months for the U.S. Representative. Both arrests came while the Congressman was protesting near the White House regarding U.S. immigration issues.

The Congressman was arrested Tuesday while protesting the federal government’s current immigration policies regarding the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Florida removal deportation defense attorneys are aware that record numbers of deportation and removal hearings have been taking place in recent years.

The Illinois Representative was arrested Tuesday during a sit down protest outside the White House. The protest occurred in an area where people are supposed to keep moving, according to Reuters. Representative Luis Gutierrez has worked on immigration issues, including being a staunch supporter of the DREAM Act. The measure has been proposed on numerous occasions and is intended to provide undocumented youth a pathway to permanent residency in the U.S., and ultimately U.S. citizenship.

In a statement released in association with Tuesday’ protest, Gutierrez says, “The President says Republicans are blocking immigration reform and he’s right, but it doesn’t get him off the hook. Everyone knows he has the power to stop deporting DREAMers and others with deep roots in the U.S. and we think he should use it.”

Gutierrez was also arrested during an immigration protest in May, 2010 at the White House. Tuesday, as last May, the Congressman paid a $100 fine related to the arrest.

The Obama Administration says it supports immigration reform, including the DREAM Act. The Administration says current deportation policies of the government are in accordance with immigration law.

Source: Reuters, “Illinois Congressman arrested in front of White House,” 27 Jul 2011