U.S. Rep. RaΓΊl M. Grijalva was arrested during a protest Tuesday morning in front of Trump Tower in New York City.
The Tucson Democrat was one of three congressmen arrested as part of a march demanding Congress pass the DREAM Act, legislation that provides a path for permanent residency for young people brought here illegally as children, and to take action to protect more than 800,000 young illegal immigrants who are in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, a Grijalva staff member confirmed.
The three were among a small group of demonstrators who sat down and blocked traffic on Fifth Avenue and refused to move, according to The Associated Press. Reps. Adriano Espaillat, D-New York, and Luis V. GutiΓ©rrez, D-Illinois, were also arrested by New York City police officers in front of Trump's corporate headquarters and personal residence.
The Democratic speaker of New York's City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, also was handcuffed and led away by police.
Protest organizers had said prior to the event that the lawmakers planned to get arrested.
President Donald Trump has said he will end the DACA program in six months and that Congress will have to pass legislation that protects young illegal immigrants.
In 2013, Grijalva was arrested along with 200 people in Washington D.C. during a march in support of immigration reform.
Grijalva is an ardent critic of Trump.
Last month, Grijalva said it was time to use the 25th Amendment, which provides the procedures for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation, or incapacitation to be put to use to remove Trump.
Trump earlier Tuesday delivered an address at the United Nations. He was scheduled to stay at Trump Tower on Tuesday evening, but wasn't present for the protest.
