Sixth Grade
Worksheets
A Day Without Immigrants
The House of Representatives passed a bill, HR 4437, in 2005. The bill said that illegal immigration would now be considered a felony. Anyone who entered the country illegally and anyone who helped someone enter the country illegally, even family members, would be classified as a felon, a criminal accused of a serious crime.
HR 4437 sparked a nationwide protest. Groups of immigrants came together in cities across the country to protest. Rallies were held with large turnouts. Immigrants who had entered the country legally and immigrants who had entered illegally participated together.
Immigrants wanted to show that they were important to the United States. They wanted people to know that they contributed to the economic prosperity of the United States by working and by spending their money here. They wanted the government to offer a way to end their illegal status and become citizens - some path to citizenship.
Throughout the year, the calls for immigrants' rights increased. More and more people became involved.
