Immigration Reform News 2014: Protests Heat Up Amid Government Inaction
Immigration reform advocates have had enough, and they're letting the U.S. government know. Immigration reform supporters have amped up their protests in the last month, with one ending in a dozen arrests Monday outside of the White House.
The rise in demonstrations comes amid a lack of changes or progress on reform from both the White House and Congress.
DREAMers and other activists planned to take their demonstration rally to the personal home of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Wednesday, BuzzFeed reported.
The protest demonstrations, organized by various human and civil rights groups across the nation, gathered to oppose the record number of nearly 2 million deportations that have occurred under President Barack Obama's administration, the Christian Post reported.
On Monday, more than 1,000 supporters came out to the White House with signs that read "Keep Families Together" and "Stop Deportations" while also chanting slogans.
Police arrested the 12 activists on suspicion of civil disobedience, according to the CP.
"[The president] has deported more people than any president in U.S. history and he has the power to move some kind of deffered action for millions of undocumented immigrants in the this country," George Goehl, executive director for the National People's Action told the CP. "That is why we have 1,100 people here to signify the 1,100 who are deported every single day."
The activists demanded the president end deportations through an executive order until comprehensive immigration overhaul is passed in both the House and Senate. Last year, the Senate passed a bi-partisan immigration reform bill but House Speaker John Boehner and the GOP-led House has stalled talks and a vote on the bill amid the current re-election year.
BuzzFeed reported that about 10 to 15 activists planned to hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday morning outside of Johnson's home. Earlier this year, the president asked Johnson to review current enforcement policies.
Immigration activist Erika Andiola said the vigil would be still be peaceful and considerate of Johnson's family.
"We want to go very peacefully and bring pictures of those who are still detained," Andiola said. "We don't want a lot of people; we also understand he has children and a wife."