Sit-in protesters arrested at Walden’s Bend office

As about a dozen supporters rallied outside, a man and woman protesting Republicans’ inaction on immigration reform staged a sit-in at Rep. Greg Walden’s Bend office Wednesday, saying they won’t leave until they are arrested — and they were.

After police were called to the Bond Street office of the congressman, Greg Delgado and Ann Havill still refused to leave, were cited for criminal trespass and released, said Officer Rob Emerson.

Here’s the news release issued earlier by Causa, a statewide Latino immigrant rights organization:

It’s been nearly a year since the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan immigration bill, and during that time, House Republicans have used nearly every excuse in the book as to why they can’t finish the job and pass comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.

Today, in solidarity with actions happening around the nation, members of the Central Oregon community are holding a sit-in and rally at Congressman Greg Walden’s District office in Bend. They are demanding that Congressman Walden take action immediately on reforming our nation’s broken immigration system.

“He has admitted that the system is broken, but he has yet to do anything”, said Greg Delgado, Causa’s Central Oregon Organizer. ” We urge him to sign the discharge petition, take action on the Immigration Reform Bill already passed by the U.S. Senate or have the U.S. House create a bill.”

Delgado added, “It’s now or never for the GOP. We’re here today to remind Congressman Walden and Republicans: your time is nearly up. They either heed the calls of their constituents and call Speaker Boehner to demand he schedule a vote by June 28 th , or sit idly as their party kisses the White House—and eventually Congress—goodbye for decades to come.”

“The future of the Republican Party is on the line,” he added.” “Doing nothing will sever their ties with Latino, Asian, and immigrant voters for decades. Unless they come out publicly against the Republican obstruction, every House Republican is responsible for blocking immigration reform, and they will be blamed for tearing apart our families and communities.”

STOP SEPARATING FAMILIES: We are calling on Congressman Greg Walden and Republicans to show moral courage and leadership by calling for a vote in the House on Comprehensive Immigration Reform with a path to citizenship.

Who: Human rights advocates, farmworkers, students, faith leaders, labor community and Central Oregon residents committed to passing immigration reform that respects the dignity and the rights of all immigrants and includes a path to citizenship.