"Please open our parks and open this Mall to veterans and to normal everyday citizens who also should have the same access we enjoy here today," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Republican, as she joined the rally for immigration.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who followed Mrs. Ros-Lehtinen, defended the president, thanking him for making an exception to the shutdown and "enabling us to gather here."