MADISON, Wis. -- Large crowds of protestors gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to call for changes to U.S. immigration policies.

TALKBACK What Do You Think? | VIDEO: Watch The Report

Police said that hundreds attended the rally. Henry Oropeza said that the immigration rally, part of a national day of action for immigration rights, is about justice.

"I want to be part of the American Dream but, also, I don't want to forget my Mexican heritage," said Oropeza, who was born in Mexico and lives in Madison. "No matter where I am coming from, I think I have a right to be a part of the American dream."

Rally organizer Alex Gillis, of Immigrant Workers Union, said the demonstrations are a catalyst for change.

"We are the people who clean the dishes, we are the people who build the construction (sites), and we are the people who are doing the same things as other workers in this country and we deserve the same rights," Gillis said. "There is only one way -- be there and speak out."

But not all immigrants said they are excited about the rally, which was significantly smaller than last year's. Some said that is because the protests are polarizing the public.

"I think we are actually worse off than we were a year ago," said Dan Guerra, a Hispanic business owner in Madison.

Some local Hispanics said that they think the rallies are counterproductive.

"I believe the most effective way to go about changing is not marching or demonstrating but really working with the community and the business community to change public opinion of what's going on," Guerra said.

But others said they will hold demonstrations until change comes.

"What we are gaining is hundreds of people that tomorrow are going to spread a message that we are not afraid and we have to fight again in the streets," Gillis said.

Gillis said that more than 3,000 gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday.

As was the case last year, organizers said that their aim is to demonstrate unity within the immigrant community and their political and economic strength. They've called for comprehensive immigration reform, which includes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Like in Madison and Milwaukee, marches took place across the country on Tuesday.

Thousands Turn Out For March In Milwaukee

The crowd stretched more than a mile as thousands of chanting immigration-rights supporters marched through downtown Milwaukee on Tuesday, culminating in a rally where the brother of Cesar Chavez urged persistence in the struggle for immigrant rights.

Decades after his brother organized farm workers in the 1960s to demand better working conditions in the agriculture industry, Ricardo Chavez said the fight for migrant equality is still going on.

The 77-year-old Chavez told the crowd gathered at a lakefront park that workers are still going through the same abuses and need to organize.

Immigrants and their allies nationwide stayed away from work, school and stores to show how much Americans benefit from their presence.

An immigration rally was also held in Racine on Tuesday.

For more information about the immigration or other protests scheduled around the country, visit Channel 3000's Immigration section.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.