Three immigration protesters arrested outside McMorris Rodgers’ office in downtown Spokane

Three people protesting the nation’s immigration policy under President Donald Trump were arrested outside of U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ office in downtown Spokane on Monday. The protesters were released and cited for trespassing.

Police reported about 30 protesters, but Kamau Chege, a senior at Whitworth University who helped organize the protest, said 50 people showed up.

“We are watching her. And we are determined to make sure she comes out in support of a clean Dream Act,” said Chege, an undocumented immigrant who will graduate with a degree in accounting this May, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The Spokane Police Department responded to the office building on Post Street at 12:50 p.m. and officers met with protest leaders.

Chege said protesters refused to leave until McMorris Rodgers gave assurances of a solution for the people who were brought to the country unlawfully as children.

According to a news release, the protesters agreed to leave if three of them were arrested.

“If we can get 30 people to leave by arresting three, we’ll do that,” said Officer Ben Maplethorpe.

Two women and one man were arrested; they were between the ages of 20 and 30.

The protesters were part of United We Dream, a national group led by young immigrants, who are calling for protection against deportation.

Monday marked what Trump had said would be the end date for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, following the six months he gave Congress to develop a legislative fix.

Chege said the protesters were largely students from Washington State University, Whitworth University, Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University and Spokane Falls Community College.