Arizona immigrants pushed back on Monday with a rally against the White House administration’s policy separating migrant parents from their children.
Activist Francisca Porches with Puente Arizona stood with dozens of other advocates outside the federal courthouse in downtown Phoenix speaking out against President Trump and his "zero tolerance" policy.
She accused Trump of using the children as political pawns to build his border wall, then stepped aside to let second grader Kimmy Vargas retell what she went through when she was separated from her father.
“It was almost about to be my birthday. I was really sad because I didn’t had [sic] a present from him,” she said to the crowd, “Kids like me should not be in prison.”
The seven-year-old was one of several children at the rally who have lost a parent due to deportation.
President Trump has faced increasing pressure along both party lines after audio of crying children was secretly recorded and released from inside a detainment center.
The president plans to meet with Republican lawmakers before they vote on immigration legislation on Tuesday.