Rep. Steve King confronted by 'Dreamers' in Iowa
A pair who identified themselves as "Dreamers," young immigrants seeking legal status, engaged in a tense discussion with U.S. Rep. Steve King in Iowa Monday, according to a video posted to YouTube.
The pair are identified in the video as Erika Andiola and Cesar Vargas.
Andiola approaches King and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, both Republicans, as they're seated at a table during a King fundraiser at the Barefoot Bar in Okoboji, where Paul spoke. Paul, who's doing three days of Iowa appearances, takes a bite, then gets up to speak with reporters a few feet away.
Andiola tells King she's originally from Mexico, graduated from Arizona State University and is in the U.S. under President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, which allows certain immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the country to work or go to school.
Andiola tells King, "I know you want to get rid of DACAs," adding later, "I just don't understand why you've been wanting to do that."
King stands up and says, "This is not what I do," and "I don't call you names."
During part of the exchange, King tells Andiola: "You're very good at English."
She answers: "I was raised in the United States."
King says, "The president has no constitutional authority to do what he has done," in allowing young immigrants who entered the country illegally to remain.
Vargas tells King that he wanted to serve his country in the military but wasn't allowed to do so.
King replies, "Because the law says you have to be an American or (have) a green card to join the military."
"So why don't you want to abide by our laws?" King asks.
King also says, "This country should not be a country that's run by one king, Barack Obama, deciding what the laws should be."
The Register confirmed later that Andiola has worked for a Democratic Arizona congressman.
The Huffington Post identified the pair as activists and co-directors of DRM Action Coalition, which advocates for immigration reform.