Rep. Gutierrez arrested outside White House for second time

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) was arrested Tuesday outside the White House, during a protest against immigrant deportation, a spokesman confirmed.

Gutierrez spokesman Douglas Rivlin said the congressman was arrested with other pro-immigration advocates after a Lafayette Square rally to protest deportations.

Sgt. David Schlosser, U.S. public information officer for the D.C. Park Police, said 11 people were arrested for “violating regulations for demonstrations in front of the White House,” and for “disobeying an official to come in compliance,” but would not confirm that Gutierrez was among those detained.

{mosads}According to Rivlin, the protesters were arrested after they sat down in front of the White House fence and refused orders by park police to leave.

At press time those arrested had not yet been identified by police.

Gutierrez also was arrested in May 2010 during a similar protest outside the White House gates. He had announced that he would not move until he was arrested or until comprehensive immigration reform had become law. He paid a $100 fine afterward, Rivlin said.

Those arrested Tuesday were handcuffed and taken to a van to transport them to the Park Police headquarters in Anacostia Park, Rivlin said. The protesters included representatives from the Center for Community Change and Casa de Maryland.

“The president says that Republicans in Congress are blocking immigration reform, but that doesn’t let him off the hook,” Rivlin said. “That’s the point of this event, and the point made yesterday when protesters interrupted Obama’s speech [at the conference of the National Council of La Raza].”

The National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic rights organization, is holding its annual conference this week.