Activists and Top Politicians Arrested Protesting for DACA Outside Trump Tower

A group of immigration rights activists in New York City, including several local and national politicians, were arrested after blocking traffic outside of Trump Tower on Tuesday as President Trump addressed the United Nations several blocks away.

Joined by Reps. Adriano Espaillat, Luis Gutiérrez, and Raúl M. Grijalva, as well as New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, at least one dozen protesters locked arms, waved banners, and called on the president to renew the DACA program and pass the DREAM Act.

“We’re taking the necessary steps to make it clear to President Trump, the Republicans and the Democrats that we will continue this peaceful fight for DREAMers and immigrants as long as it takes to enact legislation and put DREAMers in a safe place,” Rep. Gutiérrez explained in a statement issued from his office. “A few Congressmen and elected-officials gathering in front of Trump Tower doesn’t mean much if it is not backed up by the grassroots and allies and today we are standing with diverse allies to make sure Congress and the President do more than just talk about solutions, they actually follow through with action.”

According to the congressman’s office, there were reportedly 10 people arrested during the protest, including Gutiérrez himself, as well as Espaillat, Grijalva, and Mark-Viverito.

“We don’t want families to be divided,” Mark-Viverito said before she was arrested. “Trump’s policy goes against what the majority of this nation supports and believes in. It goes against our values.”

Tuesday’s protest was organized by the immigrant and community rights and group Make The Road New York.