Immigrant youth to go on hunger strike in Ryan's district

Young immigrants in U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan's congressional district are going on a hunger strike, demanding the Speaker support legislation to make permanent deferred action for childhood arrivals or DACA.

The strike launches five days of actions, including the planned Sept. 1 occupation of the Monument Square near the congressman's office and a planned march in Racine Sept. 5.

"If DACA is rescinded, I and 800,000 others will be robbed of the ability to contribute to our communities and we will be at immediate risk of deportation along with our families," said Valeria Ruiz, Racine organizer with Voces de la Frontera and Youth Empowered in the Struggle. "Speaker Ryan needs to speak up. Ryan must urge the President to keep DACA and he must support legislation to make DACA permanent without giving in to white supremacist mass deportation demands. We are going on hunger strike this week because we are putting it all on the line to defend our families and communities. We are here to stay."

The protesters want Ryan to:

• Speak in support of DACA.

• Use his power to make DACA permanent, without further militarizing the border.

• Block funding in the federal budget for more deportations that separate families.

A news conference was set for 11 a.m. Sept. 1 to discuss the protest actions coordinated by Voces de la Frontera, Youth Empowered in the Struggle.