Congressman Arrested for Protesting Deportations

Posted on Jul 27, 2011

Flickr / ElvertBarnes

Rep. Luis Gutierrez is one of the sponsors of the DREAM Act.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., was arrested in front of the White House Thursday afternoon with about a dozen others while demonstrating against the deportation of illegal immigrants. Gutierrez is a supporter of the DREAM Act, which would allow students who are in the country illegally to become conditional permanent residents if they meet certain qualifications. The bill was introduced in the Senate in 2001 and presented again last May.

Gutierrez was released after paying a $100 fine, whereupon he returned to work at the Capitol. —ARK

The Guardian:

Democratic US congressman Luis Gutierrez was arrested in front of the White House on Tuesday afternoon while protesting the deportation of illegal immigrants, a spokesman said.

Gutierrez was later released and made it back to the House of Representatives in time for the final vote of the day after paying a $100 (£60) fine, said Douglas Rivlin.

The 10th-term Illinois congressman has long worked on immigration issues, taking a prominent role in pushing the Dream Act, which would give a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants brought to the US as children. The measure has so far failed to pass Congress

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