國家廣場上的這次集會最初只有幾百人，到了下午三點左右增加到數千人。人群中有參加過美國民權運動的熟悉面孔，當時那場溫和抵抗導致約200人被捕。
抗議的核心問題是由民主黨操縱的國會通過的一項移民改革法案，但卻被共和黨操縱的眾議院暫擱。
來自加州三藩市的羅伯特說，“我們來這裡是向那些沒有證件的人提供支援，向那些家園被法律毀掉的人提供支援，向每個人提供支援。”
居住在馬里蘭州銀泉鎮的胡安·羅梅洛說，“這些人通過非法或合法途徑來到美國，是時候給他們獲得公民權創造機會了。”
但反對者反對給非法移民提供特赦。
來自維吉尼亞州亞歷山大的吉姆·麥克唐納說，“這是為非法居留者的尊嚴發起的集會，這些人基本上破壞了我們的法律，等一下，究竟怎麼回事？那些破壞法律的人還希望得到尊嚴，或要求尊嚴，這個想法很離奇。”
政府關門和避難問題毫無疑問使這條法案被擱置。
“只要總統堅持將避難與任何移民改革相關聯，美國人就不該接受這樣的政策，國會也不應該給予通過。所以因為非常重要的問題而拖延該法案，我認為這沒有什麼不利的一面。”保守派組織美國遺產行動的Dan Holler說。
在國家廣場上，也有人看法不同，認為今年會通過移民改革。
來自康涅狄格州紐黑文市的Rev. Scott Marks說，“我今天來這裡是因為已經受夠了，我們現在就需要移民改革！”
來自弗吉尼亞州尚蒂利的Ires Bares說，“因為這裡人人都有家，他們來這裡努力工作，我希望人人都可以在無需擔心被驅逐的條件享有言論和工作自由。”
對於大晚上從三藩市飛來的弗裡德來說，這只是個數學問題。“我們花了錢，忘掉人道主義原因吧。看看這些綠草，我們也花了錢，你們需要我們。我們為你們的生活方式買了單，你們退休時的養老金是我們支付的，所以醒醒吧，過來加入我們的行列！”
尚不清楚預算僵局何時結束及是否結束，到那時，美國政府仍在人員不足的條件下運作，美國國會的許多議案仍被擱置。
The U.S. government shutdown has stalled an immigration reform bill that could affect an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. The measure could offer undocumented immigrants amnesty and a pathway to citizenship. For supporters, who rallied in Washington this week, each day the government remains closed is another blow to progress. But opponents argue the shutdown provides more time to discuss the controversial issue.
It started with a few hundred people on the National Mall. It swelled to several thousand by midafternoon. There were familiar faces from the U.S. civil rights movement, and there was civil disobedience that led to the arrests of about 200 people.
At the center of the protest - an immigration reform bill passed in the Democrat-led Senate, but now stalled in the Republican-controlled House.
“We are here to show support for all these people that have no documents, and the families that have been destroyed for these laws, and to bring support to everybody,” said Roberto from San Francisco in California.
Juan Romero, who is living in Silver Spring, Maryland, said, “The people that are here, that have came to this country - either way, illegally or legally - that it’s time to create a path towards citizenship.”
But opponents argued against giving amnesty to those here illegally.
"This is supposedly a rally for dignity for illegal aliens. People that basically broke our laws. Wait a second. What happened here? What’s wrong with this picture that somebody who broke our laws is now asking for dignity, or demanding dignity, I suppose. It’s bizarre,” said Jim McDonald of Alexandria in Virginia.
The amnesty question along with the government shutdown have indefinitely stalled the bill.
“As long as the president insists on having amnesty attached to any sort of immigration reform, that’s not policy the American people should embrace and something that won’t pass Congress. So the fact that that’s delayed because of the real, important issues… I don’t see that there’s a downside to that,” said Dan Holler of the conservative group, Heritage Action for America.
Back on the Mall, there’s a different feeling that immigration reform will pass this year.
“I’m here today because enough is enough," said Rev. Scott Marks from New Haven, Connecticut. "We need immigration reform now!”
“Because everybody has family here. They come here, working hard. And I would like everybody to have the freedom to speak [and] to work without fear of being deported,” said Ires Bares from Chantilly in Virginia.
For Fred who flied overnight from San Francisco, it's simple mathmetics. “We spend money. Forget humanitarian reasons. Look at the green. We spend money. You need us. We pay for your lifestyle. When you retire the check is coming from our paychecks. So wake up. Come and join us,” he said.
It remains unclear when or if the budget stalemate will end. Until then, the U.S. government continues operating with limited staffing, while many bills before the U.S. Congress remain at an impasse.
