Representative Luis Gutierrez (D – Illinois), a staunch advocate for immigration reform, led a protest outside the White House to demand that President Barack Obama stop deporting undocumented immigrants.

 

Representative Gutierrez was joined by hundreds of other demonstrators and Hispanic leaders. The protestors rallied against “Obama’s unfulfilled promises,” for nearly two hours.

The protestors issued an ultimatum that Obama must use his executive powers to stop deporting undocumented immigrants by 15 August or else the organizers would begin a systematic campaign to discourage Hispanics from voting for him in 2012.

Since assuming office in January 2009, the Obama administration has deported more than one million undocumented immigrants.

In addition, protestors demanded that the government stop deporting undocumented youths who would qualify for legal residence under the proposed DREAM ACT. The measure, introduced initially some ten years ago, has not yet passed Congress, and it is not clear whether it has the votes to pass in the current Congress.

The demonstration remained peaceful and continued despite multiple warnings from federal authorities.

Representative Gutierrez and other activists were arrested and removed from the scene after ignoring two warnings that they would be arrested if they continued their act of civil disobedience.

“The president says Republicans are blocking immigration reform and he’s right, but it doesn’t get him off the hook,” Gutierrez said in a statement. “Everyone knows he has the power to stop deporting DREAMers and others with deep roots in the U.S. and we think he should use it.”