An endorsement that questioned Sanders immigration plan pitted two longtime activists against each other, led to criticism on Twitter from the Sanders campaign, and a response from Clinton and her staffers.

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A well-known immigration activist's decision to endorse Hillary Clinton has set off a public Twitter spat between her campaign and Bernie Sanders — and even drawn in Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. In an endorsement first reported by BuzzFeed News, DREAMer Astrid Silva said it was "tempting to fall for" an immigration activist's wish list — referring to Sanders's immigration plan — but that activists owe "it to our families to support a realistic and achievable approach to fixing our immigration system."

Calling them "appealing but ultimately empty promises," Silva said Nevadans prefer real results over "lofty goals that are impossible to reach.”

Sanders's national Latino press secretary Erika Andiola, herself a high-profile DREAMer, took a shot at the Clinton campaign and the endorsement for what she termed "showcasing" young activists rather than "organizing" with them. Difference btw showcasing "Dreamers" & organizing w/ "Dreamers"? 1 will get you a press hit, other 1 will build political power #FeelTheBern

Her tweet was retweeted by Bernie Sanders's official account. (The Clinton campaign was the first one to hire an activist from the immigration movement when the campaign hired Lorella Praeli as Latino outreach director.)

The Clinton campaign sent out a tweet in Silva's defense. .@astrid_NV your courage and activism make a real difference. Honored to fight beside you—you're part of this team, not a press hit.

During the day, Andiola retweeted activists tweeting about their support for Sanders's plan to bring back deported people and veterans as well as protect unaccompanied children who crossed the border from deportation. She told BuzzFeed News that she was not personally attacking Silva, but that those issues and others — like shutting down detention centers — are not unrealistic.

"There is no reason for people to be calling our immigration platform unrealistic because the reality is the immigrant rights community has been fighting for every single one of those things," she said. "It’s upsetting to see from someone that has been very involved in this movement, from our own community, saying it’s not realistic."

Sanders Latino outreach director Arturo Carmona doubled down on Andiola's displeasure and said Silva's endorsement did not reflect her standing within the community. "Immigrant leaders can put politics over people," he said, pointedly referring to Silva's endorsement. "But leaders putting the interests of immigrant families before politics are standing with us." Andiola's comments were taken as a personal attack on Silva from members of Clinton's team. "We should be encouraging DREAMers to get involved in the political process, not attacking them," Praeli told BuzzFeed News. "Astrid is a strong voice for our community and we're proud to have her and other DREAMers on our side." Clinton campaign officials said the response from the Sanders campaign is part of a trend of personally attacking organizations or figures who endorse Clinton rather than the campaign itself, citing the response to endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood, and Human Rights Campaign. Sanders called Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign part of the "establishment" after they endorsed Clinton. (Sanders later walked that comment back.) Clinton campaign officials also took issue with the idea that Silva wouldn't be campaigning, noting the campaign's national Latino program and pointing out that the campaign has been in Nevada longer than any other.

Clinton's national political director Amanda Renteria, digital organizing director Jessica Morales Rocketto, and Praeli, all Latinas, responded. I was raised 2 make the path a little easier for others, not to tear folks down. Estamos contigo @Astrid_NV https://t.co/Q9bEM59syh

I'm embarrassed that other Latin@s are painting @Astrid_NV as anything else than a chingona who speaks for herself. https://t.co/vCwkRbvMpa





IDK about you @ErikaAndiola. I'm not going to put down a Dreamer who wants to get involved in politics just bc it's not my candidate.

Sen. Harry Reid, who became friends with Silva during the fight for the DREAM Act and Obama's executive actions in recent years, also jumped in. .@Astrid_NV isn't a ‘press hit.’ She's my friend, an activist and a hero to so many people across America working for better life.