Eight people have been arrested during protests in Congress by activists demanding an amnesty deal in the 2018 budget.

The protest took place outside of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) office, and protesters also stood outside Rep. Carlos Curbelo’s (R-FL) office.

One of those arrested was Erika Andiola, “a proud undocumented and unafraid Mexican American,” according to her Twitter account, which also claims that she was a press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

“The DREAM Act can pass [on] December 22nd as part of the spending bill. Schumer can do this,” Andiola said at the protest, according to the Democracy Now website. “He has the power to do it. And we’re tired of him playing political games with our lives.”

“And that’s why we’re here,” Andiola said. “And we’re going to stay here, and we’re going to stay in jail, until he does that.”

Andiola tweeted after her arrest that Schumer has to “prove” he supports the young illegal aliens.

“If you’re reading this, I’m still in police custody after being arrested last night at @SenSchumer office demanding he prove his claim to support Dreamers by organizing his caucus to block any spending deal w/out a clean #DreamAct. Will remain until he does. #OurDream #NoDreamNoDeal,” Andiola tweeted.

A “clean” Dream Act not only codifies amnesty for all Deferred Action Against Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients but also opposes any language in legislation that would fund a wall on the U.S. southern border with Mexico or increase border security, according to CREDO Action, a left-wing organization.

The illegal-alien led United We Dream and CREDO Action delivered a letter last week to Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), which reveals the activists are seeking more than just amnesty for DACA recipients. They also want amnesty for their parents and other relatives.

The letter says, in part:

A clean Dream Act must be passed immediately to ensure the safety, dignity, and livelihood of immigrant youth, their families, and the broader communities they are part of.

More than 11,000 young people have lost their protection from deportation and ability to work since the Trump Administration announced on September 5th the termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that had protected nearly 800,000 young undocumented Americans.

Each day without a permanent legislative solution, 122 who benefitted from DACA will lose their protections and many more people will become vulnerable to the ever-growing enforcement machine that has already separated millions of families.

We want to make clear that votes on any spending bill that moves forward without a clean Dream Act are votes to deport Dreamers and rip communities apart already tarnished by heightened violence, discrimination and criminalization with an Administration that has continued to champion a racist, white supremacist, xenophobic and Islamophobic agenda.

The letter was signed by more than 100 left-wing groups, including MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the Women’s March and Pantsuit Nation.

According to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), amnesty for 11 million DACA recipients would cost American taxpayers an estimated $26 billion.

Newly amnestied illegal aliens also would be allowed to receive federal benefits to go to college, costing Americans a billion dollars just between 2018 through 2022, the CBO estimates.

Amnesty recipients would also compete with young Americans in the job market.