By Jorge Calvillo (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Apr 16, 2014 03:01 PM EDT

A group in favor of immigrants gathered on Thursday to protest in favor of immigration reform that would benefit over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, to celebrate the National Day of Action for Immigration Reform.

Gathered in Foley Square in New York City, Steven Choi, executive director of the local Immigration Coalition, said that their actions are meant to pressure the approval of a law project passed by the Senate since last year, a project which has been suspended in the House of Representatives, who keep millions of immigrants seeking to legalize their status and work freely, waiting.

"We're still waiting on the Republican leadership in the House to allow a vote on the immigration reform law project," said Choi. "These people are not statistics. They fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, people we know and love and appreciate and right now they're being separated from their families, maybe forever," added Choi, quoted by Epoch Times.

The debate in the House involves matters like the rights of immigrants who arrive at the US illegally and who now seek amnesty, which would be unfair for those who arrived at the country with the proper documentation. Besides, Republican opposition points out that granting amnesty would lead to an increase in the unemployment rate, by creating more competitiveness in the job market; however, legislators in favor of project S774 approved in the Senate say that the kind of jobs immigrants get are not among those preferred or requested by American workers, which would benefit the productive process of companies.

Organizations in favor of immigration reform and business group have warned that the movements and protests will not stop until Washington takes measures to pressure for a vote this year, a possibility that seems remote taking into account the 2015 electoral period.

"Until Washington gets to work on this, here in New York City we're going to make sure to show our leadership," said Councilman Carlos Menchaca, president of the Immigration Commission and co-sponsor of the legislation.

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