Rallies are scheduled in cities nationwide. (Anuska Sampedro/Flickr)

According to the NY Times, immigrant and labor groups said they chose to hold smaller events in more than 100 cities nationwide, including Birmingham, Ala. and Denver, to draw more local supporters.

Event organizers like Service Employees International Union and Mi Familia Vota--a Latino voter registration organization--hope the movement encourages Congress to finish immigration reform in 2013.

In mid-April, a bipartisan group brought a sweeping immigration bill to the table, which allowed a path to citizenship for immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally and a tightening of border security. 

Immigrant and Latino organizations have generally supported the bill, but criticized how long it takes to gain citizenship, an average of 13 years for most, as well as fines and fees associated with gaining legal status.

Read the full story at the NY Times.

Reach Executive Producer Amanda Martinez here.