Illegal immigrants upset with Brewer's executive order protest at Arizona Capitol

PHOENIX - Young Dream protesters were back on the lawn of the State Capitol, this time fired up over Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's executive order to deny benefits to illegal immigrants approved to work under the president's new program.

About 50 protesters marched, chanting, "People want to know, who we are, we tell them, we are the dreamers, the mighty, mighty dreamers."

But this time they took their march from the Capitol's courtyard to the top of the Executive Tower, demanding to meet with the Governor.

Many of the protesters claimed they were undocumented citizens, brought to the country as babies and children by their undocumented parents.

The group was screened through capitol security and waited patiently for the governor to greet them.

Governor Jan Brewer was out of town, so her spokesperson, Matthew Benson, met with Dreamers.

"I know the governor is always open to information and to meeting with people, she receives input all the time," said Benson.

But when Benson tried to explain to reporters the governor's position, the crowd fired back.

"The thing that's unfortunate is that President Obama has created this problem," started Benson when a person in the crowd yelled, "Stop being racist!"

The protesters said they were disappointed the governor would not talk to them directly.

"We'll continue talking to your representatives, but it should be you, Jan Brewer, that we're talking to, if you really need to solve this issue," said one of the protest leaders.

Young illegal immigrants around the nation on Wednesday began the process of applying for federal work permits under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The federal policy defers deportations for that group if they meet certain criteria, including arrival in the United States before they turned 16 and no convictions for certain crimes.

After President Barack Obama announced the policy change in June, Brewer labeled it "backdoor amnesty" and political pandering by the Democratic president. The day Obama's Deferred Action program went into effect, Brewer ordered state agencies to deny driver's licenses and other public benefits to young illegal immigrants who qualify.

The young immigrants told ABC15, they want to work and contribute to society like every legal citizen.