Congress

NY Lawmakers Arrested in Protest Outside Trump Tower

The lawmakers had planned to get arrested by sitting down on Fifth Avenue and refusing to move

What to Know

  • Three members of Congress were among the 10 people arrested in front of Trump Tower during a protest of the White House decision to end DACA
  • Organizers had timed the protest to coincide with Trump's visit to New York City for his address to the United Nations General Assembly
  • Trump is scheduled to stay at Trump Tower Tuesday evening, but wasn't present for the protest

New York congressman Adriano Espaillat, City Council President Melissa Mark Viverito and other lawmakers have been arrested in a protest outside Trump Tower.

They were fighting President Trump's decision to end the DACA program, which protected immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children. 

Espaillat's spokeswoman confirmed to News 4 he was arrested.

"Since day one, the Trump administration has threatened Latinos, Muslims, LGBT, women, and the list continues. His decision to end the DACA program earlier this month increased the urgency of what's at stake and the lives at risk when we fail to speak out against racism in America," spokeswoman Candace Randle Person said.

Dozens of people gathered at the corner across Trump Tower for the planned protest, holding signs and chanting. NYPD officers were also there in force to control the crowds. 

The lawmakers had planned to get arrested by sitting down on Fifth Avenue and refusing to move. Three members of Congress, along with Mark Viverito, were among the 10 people arrested. 

Organizers had timed the protest to coincide with Trump's visit to New York City for his address to the United Nations General Assembly. They're demanding the president work with Congress to pass a clean DREAM Act that includes a path to citizenship for immigrant youth. 

Trump is scheduled to stay at Trump Tower Tuesday evening, but wasn't present for the protest. 

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