Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a rising star in the Democratic Party, has insisted that any deal to end the ongoing government shutdown should include protective measures for so-called “Dreamers.”

Dreamers are illegal aliens who arrived in the United States as minors and earned temporary protection under former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) plan in 2012, which the Trump administration considers unconstitutional.

“Here’s the deal: It’s a false choice that we can’t fund the government and protect Dreamers at the same time,” Harris wrote on Twitter.

Here’s the deal: It’s a false choice that we can’t fund the government and protect Dreamers at the same time. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 18, 2018

She later tweeted, “When I look at our Dreamers, I know I am looking at the dream of who we are as a country:”

When I look at our Dreamers, I know I am looking at the dream of who we are as a country. pic.twitter.com/nXeK8r26Hd — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 20, 2018

Harris is also gathering signatures on a petition that is geared towards ending the government shutdown.

“We need this government shutdown to end as quickly as possible,” the petition states. “Make your voice heard right now and tell Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and all Republicans to do the right thing. Sign my petition to Republican leaders demanding they pass a bipartisan resolution that will reopen the government and protect the Dreamers from deportation.”

Join me in calling on Republican leaders to do the right thing and schedule a vote on a bipartisan resolution that will reopen the government and protect the Dreamers from deportation: https://t.co/LdvrGIttFe — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 21, 2018

Harris’s fellow progressive Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) claimed on Friday that the government shutdown is about the “first racist president of the United States of America” wanting to end legal immigration.

“It’s really about the color of your skin and the country you come from,’ Gutierrez claimed. He reportedly also accused the Republicans of taking DACA recipients hostage.

President Donald Trump took to Twitter to express his belief that the Democrats are using illegal aliens to advance their political position, at the cost of America’s military servicemen and women. He also criticized the Democrats for demanding amnesty for illegal aliens over keeping the government open for lawful Americans.

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Trump also suggested invoking the so-called “nuclear option” if a stalemate continues and no deal is reached between lawmakers to end the government shutdown:

Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.’s! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018

Thanks to Senate Democrats, the Senate was unable to reach the 60-vote threshold Friday that is required to end debate and move to a vote on the continuing resolution that would keep the government open.

Adelle Nazarian is a politics and national security reporter for Breitbart News. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.