7 Dreamers Arrested During Sit-In At Schumer And Curbelo Offices

WASHINGTON, DC — Seven so-called "Dreamers" as well as one of their allies were arrested during a sit-in Friday at the Washington, D.C., offices of Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida, according to a media representative from an advocacy organization. And now they're going on a hunger strike and facing possible deportation.

A Facebook post on behalf of Erika Andiola said she was among those arrested, and said they plan to remain jailed until Schumer and Curbelo publicly confirm they have enough votes to block any spending bill that doesn't come with a "clean Dream Act."

President Donald Trump eliminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, in September, cutting off all new applications and providing a six-month window for renewal applications from recipients whose permits were set to expire between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018.

"DACA recipients are demanding that Members of Congress block any spending bill that does not include a clean DREAM Act," according to the advocacy group Fight For Our Dream.

As of today 12,398 DACA recipients have lost their status. We must pass the #DreamActNow & protect #AmericanDreamers pic.twitter.com/jr0A62nFMb
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 17, 2017

In a video of the sit-in at Schumer's office, one man said Schumer has a responsibility to listen to his constituents and demands Schumer support a clean Dream Act.

"As Minority Leader, he has the capacity to gather all the democrats to stand up for the community that he says he supports so much," the unidentified man said. "As a Dreamer and a New Yorker, I am here making that demand. And I will not leave until he listens to what we're saying."

Andiola, who describes herself as a native of Durango, Mexico, on the organization's website, and the others will remain held in police custody until at least Tuesday morning, her Facebook post said. Candice Fortin, a media representative for the group, said the arrestees refused to give their names and fingerprints. There was an arraignment Saturday, she said, and none are cooperating.

"Right now they are refusing to give their names and fingerprints," she said. "It's basically acting as a jail strike."

If you're reading this, I'm still in police custody after being arrested last night at @SenSchumer office demanding he prove claim to support Dreamers by organizing his caucus to block any spending deal w/out a clean #DreamAct. Will remain until he does. #OurDream #NoDreamNoDeal pic.twitter.com/BXkkXw6haI
— Erika Andiola - #OurDream (@ErikaAndiola) December 16, 2017

They're scheduled to appear Tuesday for a trial before a jury, Fortin told Patch.

"They also are all in agreement to do a hunger strike," Fortin said. "They refuse to eat."

Andiola's Facebook post said they had been brought before a judge and the government asked to hold them in response to their noncooperation. Attorneys for the seven did not oppose the hold, in accordance with their clients' wishes. They believe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, was contacted regarding Andiola.

A message left with ICE wasn't immediately returned.

"Every day they are in police custody the danger of additional ICE engagement and then deportation grows, as it grows for all undocumented youth with each day that goes by without passage of the Dream Act," the Facebook post said.

Andiola's profile said her family came to America to escape domestic violence.

"I am risking arrest today because there are thousands of people who are losing hope, who feel attacked and this is the time for us to model courage and to stand together because that was the only way we were able to win DACA in the first place," the website said. "That’s how will we win the Dream Act now."

She said they are "undocumented and unafraid."

Curbelo represents southern Florida's 26th congressional district, which includes Monroe County and parts of Miami-Dade county. He was first elected three years ago.

Patch wasn't immediately able to reach pre-trial services, Schumer's office, Curbelo's office, or the DC Department of Corrections.

Photo credit: Candice Fortin