You know, if Paul Ryan would actually talk to these DREAMers, maybe he wouldn’t have to keep throwing them out.
For at least the third time this week, a DREAMer confronted Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) at a book signing, and he had her immediately removed. According to Latino Rebels, a group of activists from SEIU, CHIRLA, and Mi Familia Vota attended the Ryan event in Simi Valley together. A group of veterans from the American GI Forum of California accompanied them, and gave Ryan a letter taking issue with the Congressman’s vote to end DACA earlier this month. But one DREAMer who was part of the activist group, Yamilex Rustrian, got this reception from Ryan as she was about to pose for a picture with the Wisconsin Republican:
Rustrian (approaching Ryan): Umm… I a DACA student…
Ryan (backing way from Rustrian): Oh, wait, I’m not doing DACA student protesting today, I apologize, here you go. They’re going to have to take you.
Female voice: So we’re going to go right up this way…
Male voice: This way, m’am…
Rustrian (walking away): Thank you so much.
Other voice: We’re going to ask you to exit right this…
Rustrian is 18 years old and the founder of Kids Over Politics, an organization calling attention to the rise of unaccompanied minors from Central American to the United States. She attends California State University Northridge, and left Guatemala 11 years ago when her father was murdered. This is her story.
This latest meeting is part of a larger trend this summer, in which Republicans have come under heavy criticism from DREAMers for their opposition to deferred action/DACA and their votes in favor of resuming deportations for young immigrants. Others confronted by DREAMers have included Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).