Thousands of people filled the streets of Chicago to protest the President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy on undocumented immigrants at the U.S. border.
“I can’t imagine leaving some place that’s so horrific arriving somewhere where you think you’re going to get some peace and somebody takes your child," said Marcie Achler.
Achler came to Daley Square in Chicago because she said there's a message that needs to get out.
“The more people that you can get involved the better. The more people that call their senators, congressmen, the DOJ, Jeff Sessions, Trey Gowdy, I can tell you everyone I called this week.”
But there was one official she didn't need to call to make an appearance Saturday, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.
“This is a terrible policy and it’s hurting innocent people,” said Durbin, the senior senator from Illinois and a Democrat.
He had a conversation with ICE officials just this week.
“How many children are we holding?" asked Durbin. "Said we don’t have a number, we don’t know. Well, how many kids under the age of 5 who have to be returned in a matter of 12 days? We don’t know. How many parents do you know who had to give up their kids? Ten. Ten! That’s all they knew. The first thing any other president would do would be to lop heads off at the top at ICE. This agency is spending more time focusing on toddlers than terrorists.”
After the president signed an executive order ending the separation of families, his administration said they're doing everything they can to reunite the ones still torn apart.
However, Congress hasn't been able to pass an new immigration legislation.
In the meantime, families are coming together in support of the immigrant families.
“We’re showing unity with the people who are suffering," said Chicagoan Tanya Brown.
