>>> MORE THAN 70 PRO- PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS WERE ARRESTED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ON WEDNESDAY AFTER DEMONSTRATING THAT PART OF THE MAIN LIBRARY AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO RISE ON U.S.

CAMPUSES WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS BEING REVOKED AND SOME EVEN FACING ARREST.

HAVING BEEN ARRESTED ONE SUCH CASE IS THAT OF A TUFTS STUDENT, MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSWOMAN PRESLEY.

SHE SPOKE TO MICHELLE MARTIN SHORTLY AFTER VISITING HER IN AN I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU AND A SMALL GROUP OF LAWMAKERS RECENTLY TRAVELED TO THE IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN LOUISIANA.

HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> FIRST LET ME SAY I'VE LONG DONE WORK IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORM SPACE.

I HAVE VISITED THESE SETTINGS THROUGH MY YEARS IN CONGRESS.

THE MOMENT THAT MY CONSTITUENT, TUFTS GRADUATE STUDENT WAS KIDNAPPED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

THIS WAS DURING RAMADAN.

SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO BREAK HER FAST SO HUNGRY.

SHE WAS PHYSICALLY ACCOSTED BY PLAINCLOTHES SHE THOUGHT THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HER HAVING BEEN TALKS TO.

SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY HANDCUFFED, SHACKLED AND THEN TAKEN 1000+ MILES AWAY, DEFYING THE JUDGE ORDER AND DENIED HER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF DUE PROCESS.

CHARGED WITH NO CRIME.

DISAPPEARED FROM THE SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY AND HER NEIGHBORS AND RIP AWAY FROM HER LIFE SIMPLY FOR CO-AUTHORING AN OP-ED THAT SENT THE HUMANITY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

SINCE I HAVE LONG DONE THE WORK OF OVERSIGHT, ONCE SHE WAS KIDNAPPED AND OSTENSIBLY A POLITICAL PRISONER I KNEW THAT I WOULD FIND MY WAY TO RURAL LOUISIANA.

>> HOW IS SHE DOING?

>> I WAS STUNNED BY THE WAY IN WHICH SHE WAS COMPORTED HERSELF IN THE MIDST OF THIS.

SHE SHARED STORIES OF HER OWN EXPERIENCE AND THE OTHER WOMEN SHE'S DETAINED ALONGSIDE WITH.

SHE IS AN ASTHMA SUFFERER.

SHE USES TWO MEDICATIONS TODAY --A DAY.

BECAUSE SHE WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS SHE WAS ABDUCTED ACROSS INTERSTATE LINES 1000+ MILES FROM HOME WITHOUT THOSE MEDICATIONS.

SHE HAS SUFFERED SEVERAL SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACKS WHILE BEING CONFINED AT THE DETENTION FACILITY.

INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE, LIMITED RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION.

IN FACT, A NURSE REMOVED HER HIJAB WITHOUT CONSENT.

THE THING THAT I WAS MOST BY IS SHE KNEW THAT WE WERE THERE FOR HER BUT SHE MADE NO APPEALS ON HER BEHALF EXCEPT TO ASK FOR OUR PRAYERS FOR HER.

FOR THE OTHER WOMEN.

BECAUSE SHE IS A GRADUATE STUDENT AND QUALIFIED RESEARCHER SHE CAME TO THE MEETING WITH COPIOUS NOTES SHE HAD TAKEN UP AWFUL STORIES OF WOMEN THAT ARE IN THE FACILITY THAT ARE BATTLING BREAST CANCER AND NOT RECEIVING ADEQUATE TREATMENT.

OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE FACILITY THAT ARE NOT RECEIVING THE PRENATAL CARE THAT THEY NEED.

SHE SPENT THE LION'S SHARE OF THAT TIME ADVOCATING FOR OTHERS.

SHE ALSO SAID AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED, TRAVELED THE GLOBE AND WORKED WITH REFUGEES THAT SHE WAS IN SHOCK.

THAT A FACILITY LIKE THIS EVEN EXISTED IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> YOU'VE SAID REPEATEDLY SHE WAS KIDNAPPED.

WE SAW THAT SHE WAS PHYSICALLY ACCOSTED.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, LET'S SAY THIS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY COMMENTING ON THE ARREST ITSELF HAS BEEN CLAIMING THAT SHE, QUOTE, ENGAGED IN HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> BECAUSE SHE WAS DENIED HER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND THERE WAS NO DUE PROCESS, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING.

SHE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH NO CRIME.

WHATEVER ASSERTIONS THEY MAINTAIN, HAD SHE BEEN PROVIDED WITH HER DAY IN COURT THAN THEY COULD HAVE PRESENTED THOSE FINDINGS.

BUT AGAIN, ALL SHE DID IS CO- AUTHOR AN OP-ED CENTERING THE HUMANITY OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

WHEREVER YOU FALL ON THAT ISSUE --IT'S MY BELIEF OUR DESTINIES ARE INEXTRICABLY TIED, ISRAELIS, AMERICANS, PALESTINIANS.

WHEREVER YOU FOLLOW ON THAT YOU CANNOT DENY HER RIGHT TO SAY WHAT SHE BELIEVES.

THAT IS A MATTER OF FREE SPEECH.

EVERY PERSON OF CONFERENCE -- CONSCIENCE EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE WITH HER YOU SHOULD SUPPORT HER RIGHT TO SAY IT BECAUSE THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

EVERY PERSON OF CONSCIENCE SHOULD FIND WHAT HAPPENED TO RUMEYSA CHILLING.

>> THE ARGUMENT THEY HAVE MADE WITHOUT RESERVATION IS THAT NONCITIZENS HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS OF DUE PROCESS.

THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE THAT CLEAR IN HIS OPINION.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS MADE THAT CLEAR.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOMELAND SECURITY HAVE INSISTED THAT NONCITIZENS HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU SAY PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS.

>> DONALD TRUMP'S INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR LAWS IS WILDLY INACCURATE AND UNLAWFUL.

THAT IS WHY THE BEST OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES HAS BEEN LITIGATION IN THE COURTS.

THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT LAW AND ORDER OR IMMIGRATION.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH THE ANTI-FREEDOM AGENDA THAT WANTS TO CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN WRITE IN AN OP-ED, WHAT BOOKS YOU READ AND WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR BODY.

WHEN I SAY EVERYONE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS I SAY PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE, EVERYONE WHO CALLS THIS COUNTRY HOME SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS FOR ANY PERSON THAT CALLS THIS COUNTRY HOME.

HER RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED.

MOREOVER SHE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH NO CRIME.

IF HER ONLY SO-CALLED CRIME IS HAVING CO-AUTHORED AN OP-ED, THIS COULD BE ANYONE.

>> LET ME POINT OUT SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO HAS INVOKE THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT WHICH HE SAYS GIVES HIM THE AUTHORITY TO DEPORT AN ALIEN THAT QUOTE, COULD HAVE SERIOUS FOREIGN POLICY CONSEQUENCES FOR AMERICA.

THE ARGUMENT SEEMS TO BE THAT THESE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN, PERHAPS RUMEYSA'S OP-ED, HAS CONSEQUENCES.

FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT COULD BE TRUE, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE WITH WHAT SOMEONE IS SAYING OR WRITING OR A POSITION THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN, YOU HAVE TO AS A PERSON OF CONSCIENCE, AS ANYONE THAT CALLS THIS COUNTRY HOME, AS AN AMERICAN AFFIRM THE RIGHT TO SAY IT.

IT IS JUST FREE SPEECH.

THIS IS A FRIGHTENING FOUNDATIONAL FLOOR THAT'S BEEN SET.

AS I SAID, A BELLWETHER OF THINGS TO COME.

THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN SO ENCOURAGED BY THE PUBLIC OUTCRY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RALLIED, LOBBIED, APPLIED PRESSURE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT A DICTATOR LIKE DONALD TRUMP, THEY WANT A CITIZENRY THAT IS IGNORANT AND UNINFORMED AND INDIFFERENT TO THE SUFFERING OF THEIR NEIGHBORS AND ENACT IF.

WHEN IT COMES TO MY CONSTITUENT RUMEYSA BEING KIDNAPPED AND A POLITICAL PRISONER, I HAVE BEEN HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT HER RIGHTS.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN DIFFERENT AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THEIR MOBILIZATION.

>> WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP HERE?

>> WE ARE IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND A JUDGE HAS ORDERED THAT SHE BE MOVED TO VERMONT.

SHE WAS TAKEN TO LOUISIANA ON PURPOSE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY INCARCERATED STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT I HEARD FROM MANY WOMEN THAT ARE DETAINED THERE IS THAT THEY OFTEN CANNOT GET LEGAL COUNSEL.

IF YOU CALL SOMEONE AND SAY THAT YOU ARE AT THAT DETENTION FACILITY THEY WILL HANG UP ON YOU BECAUSE THE CHANCES ARE SO BLEAK THAT YOU WILL HAVE A FAIR PROCESS AND BE ABLE TO BE FREED.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHAT FOR RUMEYSA TO BE FREE AND HER STUDENT VISA WHICH WAS REVOKED TO BE REINSTATED.

WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THIS RECENT RULING BY THE JUDGE FOR HER TO BE MOVED FROM LOUISIANA TO VERMONT AND WE WILL SEE IF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HONORS THE RULING.

>> AS A CANDIDATE FOR A SECOND TERM, THE PRESIDENT MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTED A MASS DEPORTATION REGIME.

MANY PEOPLE SOUNDED THE ALARM THEN INCLUDING YOURSELF.

OVERALL, DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS ARE OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE, A CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING?

>> I WILL TELL YOU THE WAY I SEE IT.

I BELIEVE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN OPERATED WITH SCARED POWER.

THAT IS NOT POWER AT ALL.

DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE IT VERY PLAIN HE WANTS THE POWER.

HE WANTS TO AMASS THE POWER.

WHICH IS WHY WE WENT TO RURAL LOUISIANA BECAUSE WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO GO UNCHECKED.

WE CANNOT OPERATE AS IF THIS DARK, DYSTOPIAN VIEW DONALD TRUMP HAS FOR THIS COUNTRY IS AN INEVITABILITY.

WE HAVE TO RESIST AND REJECT IT AT EVERY TURN.

YOU SEE DEMOCRATS DOING THAT.

I AM CERTAINLY DOING THAT.

I AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS THAT WE BLUNT THE HARMS WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT VISION.

THE MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT CAN'T BE THAT WE ARE NOT DONALD TRUMP.

WHAT I SEE AND HEAR FROM PEOPLE EVERY DAY IS THEY DON'T WANT US TO MODERATE OUR ASPIRATIONS.

THEY WANT US TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THEM IN THIS MOMENT.

DEMOCRATS HAVE DEPLOYED THIS DEFENSIVE STRATEGY OF LITIGATION, LEGISLATION, AGITATION AND MOBILIZATION.

WHEN I SAY LEGISLATION, PEOPLE SAY YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY.

FIRST OF ALL, WE ONLY NEED THREE OR FOUR REPUBLICANS OF CONSCIENCE TO VOTE WITH US.

RECENTLY WE HAVE A DISCHARGE PETITION WHICH FORCES A BOAT IN THE HOUSE --VOTE IN THE HOUSE.

THAT WOULD FORCE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO GO ON THE RECORD.

IT IS CALLED HANDS-OFF MEDICAID AND SNAP.

THEY KEEP SAYING THERE'S NO PLANS TO CUT MEDICAID WHICH IS FAKE NEWS BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN DO $1 TRILLION IN CUTS AND NOT CUT CRITICAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT ARE LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE WHICH IS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY HAS CONFIRMED THAT.

THE STRATEGY IS TO MAKE THEM WHERE IT.

SECOND, WE HAVE TO MAKE AN AFFIRMATIVE CASE.

THAT'S WHY I'M NOT GOING TO STOP FIGHTING FOR UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE, PAID LEAVE, REPARATIONS.

PEOPLE WANT US TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT GO AS FAR AND DEEP AS THE HEART.

THAT'S HOW DEMOCRATS WIN.

WE WIN WHEN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY FEEL THE IMPACT EVERY DAY.

>> HOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT AT LEAST AS FAR AS PULLING IS CONCERNED PEOPLE ARE NOT GIVING DEMOCRATS HIGH MARKS EITHER.

SOME OF THE CHANNELS CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY ANGRY.

THEY FEEL LIKE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT FIGHTING HARD ENOUGH.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION AND WHY WE LOST IS WHEN DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD THE POWER WE DID NOT USE IT.

IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO BUILD THE COALITION AND THE MOVEMENT THAT WE NEED TO TO GET THE GAVEL BACK SO WE CAN STOP THIS HARM.

IF THEY QUESTION WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE THE GAVEL THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY BLUNTING THE HARMS OF THIS HOSTILE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE AND SPEAK TO AN AFFIRMATIVE VISION FOR THIS COUNTRY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MAKING STRIDES.

NONE OF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN QUICKLY ENOUGH.

WHATEVER YOU OFFER AS AN ELECTED IN THIS MOMENT FEELS LIKE IT HAS FALLEN WOEFULLY SHORT.

>> IS THAT BECAUSE DEMOCRATS ARE TOO TIMID?

>> I DO NOT THINK IT'S TIMIDITY.

I THINK IT IS A HOSTILE ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS NO REGARD FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION AND CONTENT FOR PEOPLE THAT CALL THE COUNTRY HOME.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BURNS ME IS WHENEVER DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE MINORITY I WILL BE ASKED, DO YOU THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY BIPARTISANSHIP.

WHERE IS THE PARTY TO BE BIPARTISAN WITH.

MY HOUSE COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE ARE NOT OPERATING LIKE A PARTY.

THEY ARE OPERATING LIKE A CULT ANYTHING PEOPLE NEED TO BE MORE STRIDENT THE REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO HAVE TOWN HALLS AND BE ACCOUNTABLE.

IT'S THE REPUBLICANS AND THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS THAT ARE SITTING SILENTLY.

THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET A RESPONSE FROM THEIR OWN REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES.

THAT IS WHY YOU SEE DEMOCRATS GOING TO REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS AND DOING TOWN HALLS.

>> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MAKING IT CLEAR FOR SOME TIME EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE THAT HIS APPROACH WOULD BE BASICALLY TO FLOOD THE ZONE AND THEY ARE DOING THAT.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS ABOUT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AS WELL AS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN THIS AGGRESSIVE PUSH TOWARD POLICYMAKING, DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PRESENTED --I GUESS I WOULD SAY A COHERENT RESPONSE AND ONE THAT ACTUALLY MEETS THE MOMENT.

AND IF NOT WHY NOT?

>> THIS MOMENT REQUIRES US TO BE NIMBLE.

AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION THAT EVERY GREAT MOVEMENT REQUIRES THREE THINGS.

IMAGINATION, STRATEGY AND STAMINA.

WE HAVE TO OFFER IMAGINATION, AND AFFIRMATIVE YOU FOR A COUNTRY THAT IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO DONALD TRUMP'S AMERICA.

WE NEED TO BE STRATEGIC.

WE HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE AND NIMBLE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STAMINA FOR THE FIGHT.

WE HAVE TO LITIGATE, I JUST LATE, AGITATE, MOBILIZE, WE HAVE TO DO DISRUPTIVE THINGS WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

I HAVE OCCUPIED THE HOUSE STAFF UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CORI BUSH TO ADVOCATE FOR AN EVICTION MORATORIUM.

YOU SAW RECENTLY HAKEEM TO THE HOUSE STEPS IN REJECTION OF MEDICAID CUTS.

YOU SEE SENATOR SANDERS DOING STOP THE OLIGARCHY TOURS IN PLACES LIKE IDAHO WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP.

YOU SEE MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVING TRAVELED FROM EL SALVADOR TO LOUISIANA TO VISIT DETENTION FACILITIES.

WE HAVE TO DO THINGS WE HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

WE HAVE TO BE DISRUPTIVE.

WE HAVE TO BE BOLD.

WE HAVE TO BE UNAPOLOGETIC AND WE HAVE TO MATCH THEIR ENERGY.

THEY'RE FLOODING THE ZONE AND WE HAVE TO DO THE VERY SAME THING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.