'We're essential Americans': Advocacy group plans large immigration rally for May Day

WASHINGTON (7News) — A large rally focused on solving the country's immigration issues is slated for Saturday, also known as May Day.

CASA secured a permit for a 1,600 person rally in the National Mall, according to the National Park Service. The permit says the group will arrive at 5:30 a.m. and leave around 4 that afternoon.

7News spoke with Luis Aguilar, who is CASA's Virginia State director, who has personal experience with the immigration issues plaguing the country.

"We believe that this May Day, which is International Workers Day, that we can have our community and solve this immigration challenge that this nation has had for several years," he said, adding, "It impacts families like my own family, like myself, on a day-to-day, year-to-year basis - and it's time we address it, it's time that we solve it."

Aguilar told 7News doing this event on International Workers Day is to emphasize immigrants' value to the nation's workforce. It's also to make others realize they want to help resolve the immigration issues happening right now.

"We're called essential workers, but we're essential people. We're essential Americans, and that's why we're showing up on May 1, to say, 'Hey, we're here, let's solve this issue together."

According to the permit, the rally portion of the day starts at 12:45 a.m. and ends around 2 p.m.

Watch the entire interview with Luis Aguilar above.