On Thursday, a reported 145 people were arrested outside of the White House during a civil disobedience protest demanding immigration reform and relief from deportation for undocumented immigrants.

According to The Associated Press, the protest was led by immigration activists from CASA de Maryland, which aims to "create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in low-income immigrant communities," according to its mission, and its sister organization CASA de Virginia.

The protesters began their march at the headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, EFE reports. Gustavo Torres, CASA de Virginia executive director, said that President Barack Obama "can and must" end deportations.

"We're asking Obama for fair and necessary relief for the immigrant communities in the country," Torres said to an audience of around 500.

Protesters conducted a sit-in by the fence of the White House. They were arrested one-by-one while their fellow demonstrators applauded. No one resisted arrest. According to ABC News, officers warned the protesters to stop blocking sidewalk traffic several times.

Susana Sandoval, who came from Chicago for the protest, was prepared for her potential incarceration.

"I'm ready to let myself be arrested because I've already been for [immigration] reform for a decade, visiting the offices of congressmen, fasting in tents, registering voters," said the member of We Belong Together, "a campaign to mobilize women in support of common-sense immigration reform that will keep families together and empower women."

Members of the National Organization for Women, The Sisters of Mercy and AFL-CIO were also present at the protest, ABC News reports.

"Seventeen American citizen children today will be losing their moms or dads for a senseless deportation system that ICE does on daily basis," said Tefere Gebre, AFL-CIO executive vice president. "The president can and will stop this. Yes, we can!"

---

Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

Related