Armando Ibanez preparing for the march. (Tahsin Hyder/Neon Tommy)

For the estimated 11 million people in the U.S. who don't have proof of legal residency — over 2 million in California alone — Ibanez's sentiment is not unusual. 

Ibanez, along with thousands of others, marched the nearly 2-mile stretch from Hollywood and Western to Selma and Vine in their determination for comprehensive reform. Ibanez, who is originally from Mexico, explained he is not a criminal. 

"Many people say that we broke the law, but I don't think so. We were just trying, like in my case, to survive," he said. "We were dying of poverty in Mexico, and that's why I came to this country."

Ibanez was participating in one of the more than 160 protests held throughout the U.S. by CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, and several other immigrant rights organizations and unions to send a message to Congress, which is currently deliberating a bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship. 

María Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), said that while she believes there is a majority who would approve immigration reform in Congress, there are a few key people standing in the way.

"The three Republican leaders, Speaker Boehner, McCarthy and Canter, refuse to allow a vote in Congress," said Durazo. 

"We hold them personally responsible that men and women are getting deported and separated from their kids. We hold them personally responsible that workers get abused every single day, don't even get paid minimum wage," she added.

Protester Omar Cruz said these were only a few of the injustices that occur every day. Before Bill AB60 was signed into law on Thursday, immigrants without driver licenses were fined and often lost their property.

"The police pulled me over and I have to pay [tickets] because I don't have a license. I've been paying so much money, and I don't think I deserve to pay that much money, because I'm not a criminal," said Cruz.

But the anguish of putting dreams on hold can outweigh financial hardships. Cruz, a bartender, had ambitions of opening his own restaurant, but can't move forward.

"Every time they ask me, 'You want to be the manager? Do you want to do something else?' I say I can't because I don't have the papers," said Cruz.

If given the opportunity, he said, he would try to help everyone in the same situation. 

"If I had the papers, I would do so much for this country," Cruz said. "I will open my own restaurant. I will support more people, giving more work to my people and to the people that want to work, but I'm just stuck."

It is people like Ibanez and Cruz who hope that their stories will make Congress realize that immigrants without documentation are contributing to the country. 

"We thought they got the message last November when they saw the enormous increase in Asian and Latino votes. But right now, a year later, they still haven't done anything about it. And so we're going to keep on fighting. We will not back off," said Durazo. 

Connie Choi, a staff attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles, spoke to the importance of the demonstrations in creating a path to citizenship.  

"We here are a part of a coalition of Asian-American organizations called API FIRE that are really pushing for fair and humane immigrant rights," said Choi. 

Durazo and Choi want to show Congress just how far-reaching this issue is for both citizens and those without any legal status in the U.S. 

The march came to a close with several faith-based organizations praying for the millions of people who endured injustices throughout the nation. Ibanez, still holding his sign, explained the core of what having a path to citizenship would mean for him. 

"I will be able to fight for my dreams like everyone else," Ibanez said.

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