100,000 protest
immigration bill

Protest in downtown Chicago today (Courtesy WLS-TV, Chicago)

An estimated 100,000 people gathered in downtown Chicago today to protest a bill in the U.S. Congress that would tighten immigration laws.

Police say many streets have been blocked in the city's central Loop, reports WLS-TV in Chicago.

The bill prohibits any offer of assistance to an illegal immigrant.

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Opponents, including illegal aliens, congregated at the Chicago Federal Center, complaining the measure discriminates against illegal residents and robs them of a chance at the American dream.

Chicago protest (Courtesy WBBM-TV, Chicago)

"I guess we're only here for cheap labor. It is not right. We are only here for more military. We can do everything but be citizens and have civil rights," said Juan Zavate, according to WLS.

A doctor and immigration reform activist, Sean Gavin, complained the bill would make giving aid and health care to an illegal alien a felony.

"We, as doctors, going to be jailed have felonies because we're helping the people? This is what we have committed our lives to – to helping the people," he said. "You can't take it away from us, you can't legislate it away from us. We won't stand for it."

Chicago rally (Courtesy WBBM-TV, Chicago)

Supporters of bill said they are accused unfairly of being bigots and insist the country's resources are for legal residents.

"We have always been called racist, but it has nothing to do with racism," said Carmen Mercer, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. "This is a national security issue, a public safety issue."

An illegal alien at the rally, Celina Nunez, said many parents who are not citizens have children who are, and the bill "will cause them to be separated and it is not fair because citizen or not, we have rights. And we want to live the American dream, not just Americans."

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