Angry over recent raids and frustrated with Congress, thousands of people (including staff and members of Make the Road by Walking) protested across the country yesterday to demand a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

From Los Angeles to Detroit to Miami, thousands of people carried American flags in the streets.

Organizers say immigrants feel a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections.

"If we don’t act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing," said Angelica Salas, an activist in L.A.

In Chicago, Melissa Woo said: "Us immigrants aren’t pieces of trash, we’re human beings."

In the New York area, pro-immigration protesters marched from Washington Square Park to Union Square, and held rallies in Chinatown, White Plains, Jersey City and New Haven, Conn.

Organizers said yesterday’s turnout will be lower than the 1 million across the nation who took to the streets last year.