Rep. Raul Grijalva arrested during immigration rally
Oct 8, 2013, 2:02 PM | Updated: 5:20 pm
PHOENIX — Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva was arrested Tuesday during an immigration demonstration.
According to Politico, the rally attracted hundreds of supporters and more than 10 members of Congress. The goal of the demonstration was to push an immigration reform bill in the House.
Grijalva was arrested for planned civil disobedience. He, along with about 200 others, were planning to block the street in front of the U.S. Capitol.
A Phoenix woman, Gina Sanchez, was also arrested as part of the rally. Sanchez is a business owner and mother of three. She claimed she had not seen her daughters in 14 years.
“I’m doing this to remind Congress there are millions of other people like me whose families suffer every day because of our immigration system,” Sanchez said in a press release. “I have a son who was born here, but because I must work here to support them and I cannot cross legally back and forth into the United States my family cannot be together. As much as I have suffered, I know my children have suffered more.”
Multiple other lawmakers were also arrested along with dozens of others, an immigration advocacy group said.
It is unknown if Grijalva or others arrested will face charges.
According to spokesman Adam Sarvana, Grijalva was released about 5 p.m. Arizona time.
