The protesters want comprehensive immigration reform. About 200 people participated, including several Chicago aldermen.
The group is also asking President Obama to stop deportations that they claim destroy families and communities. Several dozen people who staged a sit-in were removed.
Police broke up the crowds and ticketed several dozen protestors. No one was arrested.
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam's office issued the following statement Wednesday: "It is clear our immigration system is broken and must be remedied. The House of Representatives is working on small, targeted pieces of legislation to advance solutions to these challenges. First, we must work to secure our border once and for all. Once the border is secure, we can then begin to address high-skilled visas, guest worker programs and give the people who are currently here the chance to get right with the law. America is a nation of immigrants, and for two centuries the Chicago-area has been a magnet for people from all over the world because of the opportunities available here. In fact, we owe much of our rich and dynamic culture to the many different backgrounds of local residents. And, from a growth perspective, reforming our broken system and replacing it with an effective, legal immigration system just makes sense as we work to ensure a strong and vibrant economy."
