Bryce, Myers among those intentionally arrested during Dream Act demonstration in Racine

About 20 people were arrested Monday, including congressional candidates Randy Bryce and Cathy Myers, during a demonstration in Racine demanding protection for people brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

The arrests were made after a small group from among about 250 demonstrators sat in the intersection of 6th and Main streets, near U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan's Racine office, according to Sam Singleton-Freeman, an organizer with Voces de la Frontera, an immigrants rights organization.

The demonstrators were calling on the Republican House speaker to allow a vote on permanent legislation for young immigrants covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or "Dream Act."

Those arrested were engaging in a peaceful act of civil disobedience, according to Lauren Hitt, spokeswoman for Bryce.

Bryce, a union ironworker, and Myers, a public school teacher and Janesville School Board member, will compete in the August Democratic primary for the chance to challenge Ryan in the November election.

Others arrested included state Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa and Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West, Singleton-Freeman said.

RELATED: Milwaukee students walk out, demand Paul Ryan take action as DACA deadline passes

The demonstration included about 200 students from Riverside, South Division and Reagan high schools in Milwaukee who walked out of classes and were joined by students from Racine Horlick High School, Singleton-Freeman said.

Monday marked the deadline President Donald Trump imposed on Congress to pass permanent legislation for those covered by the Dream Act.