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More Immigrant Rights Rallies Planned In Chicago
Events Expected To Start Friday

(CBS) CHICAGO The same coalition of pro-immigrant organizations that organized massive marches before say they're getting ready to do it all over again.

CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports marches, protests and rallies are planned starting Friday.

"They're separating our families. They're deporting people. They're bringing sanctions on the employers," said Ema Lozano with Center Without Borders. "They're not going to change! We need to force their hand. That's why we take the streets."

Organizers say they don't expect any of the marches to be as big as the one that congregated hundreds of thousands of people at the Federal Plaza in March, but they also say they won't stop until they accomplish their goals.

On the other side of the issue, organizers that oppose immigration say they're trying to convince police agencies to round up and deport illegal immigrants.

"They're cracking down on illegal immigration. Illegals are staying away from their town. It can be done when there is a willingness," said Rosanna Pulido with the Illinois Minuteman Project.

The Bush administration has sent a cabinet member to cities across the nation in an effort to push for immigration reform.

"The system needs to be fixed," Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez was in Chicago Thursday speaking to an audience of business leaders.

"We need a temporary worker's permit. That way, we allow people to come out from the shadows to register, to be in the country legally, to be tax-paying workers," he said.

They are workers that Gutierrez says could fill more than 4 million jobs in the service and food industries.

A surprising study coming from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that most people who participated in the previous marches were citizens.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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