Protestors taunted Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen as she tried to eat her dinner at a Washington, D.C. Mexican restaurant.

About a dozen protesters went into MXDC Cocina Mexicana Tuesday night while Nielsen dined with an unidentified person, The Washington Post reported.

They shouted "shame" and "end family separation," the newspaper reported.

>> Read more trending news

She had been at the business for about an hour before being disrupted by the protesters at the restaurant that’s two blocks from the White House.

Video of the protest was posted as a 10 minute clip to Facebook by Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America, CNN reported. Warning, the video contains profanity.

One male protester can be heard asking Nielsen, “How dare you spend your evening here eating dinner as you’re complicit in the separation and deportation of over 10,000 children separated from their parents? How can you enjoy a Mexican dinner as you’re deporting and imprisoning tens of thousands of people who come here seeking asylum in the United States? We call on you to end family separation and abolish ICE!”

Another yelled, “If kids don’t eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace.”

The Department of Homeland Security responded to the restaurant protest after Nielsen's dinner, saying, "The Secretary encourages all -- including this group -- who want to see an immigration system that works, that contributes to our economy, that protects our security, and that reflects our values to reach out to Members of Congress and seek their support to close the terrible immigration loopholes that have made our system a mess," The Washington Post reported.

President Donald Trump's administration has come under fire for the practice of sending children of illegal immigrants, many seeking asylum, to holding facilities as parents are detained for crossing the border with Mexico, CNN reported. The administration has enacted a zero tolerance policy when it comes to illegal immigration.

What You Need to Know: 'Zero Tolerance' Immigration Policy

About the Author

Featured

8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres