Jailed Dreamers Continue Hunger Strike Against Ending DACA

Only three of the seven hunger striking “Dreamers” have been released from prison Tuesday as the rest continue their protest in jail for the fifth day in a row after being arrested during a sit-in in front of U.S. Congress against President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend the DACA, short for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which protected those undocumented child immigrants who entered the United States without proper authorization.

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One of the jailed Dreamers is Erika Andiola, former press secretary for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and a DACA recipient, who was participating in the sit-in with the other six Dreamers at the Congressional offices of Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer and Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo.

The group, who call themselves #Dream7 and come from Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, demanded that Schumer and Curbelo guarantee enough votes to a Clean Dream Act, a legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for the DACA recipients.

Candice Fortin, who has been cited by Andiola as the group’s press liaison, told local media the seven were arrested for overstaying building hours, which was deemed unlawful entry.

Fortin added that the group had refused to provide names and fingerprints and thus were kept in jail for refusing to cooperate with the police. The group says they will continue their hunger strike until their demands are met.

One of the released Dreamers is Li Adorno who organizes DACA advocacy with Movimiento Cosecha in Harrison. "The reality is that legislators don’t see the Dream Act as a priority," Adorno stated according to a press release by Fight for Our Dream organization.

"They’ve let our lives hang in the balance for 16 years. They never deliver, so why would I believe another promise? Every day they wait, my community is at risk for detention and deportation. By staying silent Schumer is letting us know that he really does see Dreamers as ‘bargaining chips.’ I won’t give him the power to negotiate away my dignity.”

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DACA is a President Barack Obama-era executive order that protected about 800,000 undocumented child immigrants. President Trump terminated the program in Septmber and gave Congress six months to come up with a replacement.

The news comes a day after No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn said the U.S. Senate will not consider an immigration bill as part of year-end legislation but will turn to a measure protecting the Dreamers in January.

Over the past few weeks as the  Dec. 22 deadline for a spending bill looms, immigration advocates have erected a huge monitor on the National Mall. Situated at the base of the U.S. Capitol for lawmakers and tourists alike to see, it broadcasts videos of Dreamers pleading for help.