CHICAGO — Buoyed by recent promises from the Obama administration to push forward on changing federal immigration law, activists nationwide are planning a series of events this week to build more momentum for their cause.
Groups across the country plan vigils to protest conditions inside federal detention centers and news conferences to advance economic arguments for legalizing the nation’s estimated 11.6 million illegal immigrants.
White House officials have said it is unlikely immigration legislation would be taken up in Congress before 2010. But the framework for what promises to be another contentious debate could be laid down in May, when Obama is expected to speak publicly on the issue.
Organizers are planning a national day of citizenship on Saturday geared toward drawing more legal permanent residents into the electoral process.
