The issue focused on federal enforcement of laws governing illegal immigration. Lawmakers called for legislation that would legalize legal immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), one of the leading advocates for legalization, said his message was simple: "When we legalized illegals in 1996, illegal immigration dropped."

He noted that legalizing illegal immigrants now would mean fewer criminal prosecutions and court dates. He added that illegal immigrants make up just 4