Protesters confront US homeland security secretary as she eats Mexican meal
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Kirstjen Nielsen was confronted over family separations while out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant: ‘If kids don’t eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace’
Kirstjen Nielsen, Trump’s homeland security secretary, faced protesters while dining at a Mexican restaurant amid growing backlash surrounding the US policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border.
Video posted by the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America showed protesters shouting at the embattled Trump official as she tried to ignore the chants.
“How can you enjoy a Mexican dinner as you’re deporting and imprisoning tens of thousands of people that come here seeking asylum in the United States?” one person yelled, before calling for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice).
“We call on you to end family separation and abolish Ice,” a protester said, as others shouted, “Shame!”, “If kids don’t eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace” and “Kirstjen Nielsen, you’re a villain!”
“In a Mexican restaurant, of all places!” another protester shouted on the 10-minute video, which was broadcast live on Facebook and recorded at MXDC, a restaurant near the White House in Washington DC. “The fucking gall!”
Agents appeared to stand guard Nielsen, who looked down and did not engage the demonstrators. The protesters also played audio of Central American children crying after they were taken from their parents at the border.
“How does that make you feel?” a demonstrator asked. “Do you hear the babies crying?”
Video captured Nielsen eventually leaving the restaurant and entering a vehicle.
Nielsen defended the administration’s policy in a Monday speech, saying: “We will not apologize for the job we do, or for the job law enforcement does, for doing the job that the American people expect us to do.”
At a press briefing on Monday, she also claimed that she had not heard the audio of the children calling “Mami!” and “Papá”.
From 5 May to 9 June of this year, more than 2,000 children were separated under the new “zero tolerance” policy, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS spokespeople did not immediately respond to request for comment on Tuesday about the protests.
Some Democratic lawmakers have called on Nielsen to resign.