Local leaders and
immigration advocates** gathered in
Lower Manhattan this morning to announce a rally**
May 1st in Madison
Square Park.
 

They will call on
President Barack Obama to address three pieces of legislation, including
immigration reform and giving healthcare to immigrants.

The group says treating
immigrants fairly can help turn the country’s economic woes around.  

"Immigrants are the
stimulus," said New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director
Chung-Wha Hong. "Legalization maximizes immigrants ability to contribute
as consumers, as workers, business owners, as employers, and as taxpayers. And
that’s a stimulus, that’s a federal stimulus if I ever heard of one."

May 1st is also Obama’s
100th day in office.  

Sponsors of the rally say
they are encouraged by his administration’s commitment to address immigration
reform.

**Make the Road NY (MRNY) is sponsoring the rally.

Click here to see a video about the upcoming May 1st rally.