Yesterday, advocates with United We Dream staged an act of civil disobedience in Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)’s Washington, DC office, during which 11 activists were arrested after they refused to leave.
Though Heller has supported the Dream Act — and broader immigration reform before — he has not been clear about his position on this year’s Dream Act, and advocates are calling on him to be a leader for the bill.
As Adrian Reyna, Director of Membership for United We Dream said in a statement:
More than 34,000 young people would qualify for the Dream Act in Nevada – Senator Dean Heller’s state – and more than 13,000 are protected by DACA. Most people support the Dream Act but Heller has yet to commit to passing the Dream Act by the end of the year to protect them.
Immigrant youth are in the fight for their lives and need a Dream Act by the end of this year and need Senator Heller to commit to make that happen. So far, he’s only delivered nice talk and delays. If Senator Heller is serious about protecting immigrant youth, he needs to co-sponsor the Dream Act now and push for it to pass by December 22nd.
Earlier in the day, United We Dream unveiled a giant Jumbotron — which they called the DreamActTron — on the National Mall, which will display Dreamer stories and messages for Congress to see every day for the rest of the year.
View livestream and photos of the demonstration in Sen. Heller’s office, below:
Shout out to our powerful United We Dream Womxn Warriors! They just got released from jail! They sat in @SenDeanHeller office and demanded he support a clean #DreamActNow!
Show your support too by calling Congress!
☎️ 215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/ziW1O1JdPl— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
Powerful Womxn were arrested, searched, and then put in vans after asking @DeanHeller / @SenDeanHeller to support a Clean #DreamActNow.
More than 11 thousand immigrant youth have already lost their protection from deportation and work permits.
We need a clean #DreamActNow! pic.twitter.com/9INq9wypkS
— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
Our fearless United We Dream leaders, Karla, putting her body on the line and getting arrested, demanding a clean #DreamActNow. @SenDeanHeller – the time is now!
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/gvSmfl70Pt— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
Our fearless United We Dream leaders getting arrested for demanding a clean #DreamActNow. Show your support!
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/5a16IyTMlx— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
Standing in solidarity with our United We Dream leaders for getting arrested when they sat in and demanded @SenDeanHeller to support a clean #DreamActNow
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/NCv31uIgEP— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
United We Dream Leaders getting arrested after sitting in and demanding @SenDeanHeller to support a clean #DreamActNow
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/DnxS3zY903— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
Arrests happening.
RT if you’re a DACA recipient. 🙌🏾
RT if you’re eligible for the Dream Act. 👏🏾
RT if your home is in Nevada and you want @SenDeanHeller to pass the clean Dream Act by Dec 22nd! 👈🏾#DreamActNow @UNITEDWEDREAM pic.twitter.com/CfxZsJ2RbJ— #SaveTPS 🦋#DreamActNow (@SirSheri) December 12, 2017
Immigrant youth have just been arrested for sitting in @SenDeanHeller office demanding he deliver on a clean Dream Act by December 22nd! #DreamActNow
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/RlXnJetphz— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
United We Leaders putting their bodies on the line, getting arrested, sitting in @SenDeanHeller office demanding he support a clean #DreamActNow!
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/e1AYnAcDN0— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
.@DeanHeller Will you sign on to pass a #DreamActNow?
Call Congress
☎️215-874-6784 pic.twitter.com/7RD8POF7Mu— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
Hey @DeanHeller, we are currently sitting down in your office. We are here to remind you that we need a Clean #DreamActNow! pic.twitter.com/Fg9EraAgun
— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
"… Once I graduate, I won't be able to work… That's why I need a clean #DreamActNow"
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784#DreamActNow pic.twitter.com/RQ7FHFU6k6— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017
United We Dream Leaders currently sitting in Senator Heller's office! We need a clean #DreamActNow @DeanHeller. The time is now!
Call Congress now!
☎️215-874-6784#DreamActNow pic.twitter.com/Hk3oc2k9Ce— United We Dream (#DreamActNow: 478-488-8059) (@UNITEDWEDREAM) December 12, 2017