The Day Without Immigrants is a staple of spring in Madison. Held each year on International Workers' Day, the march advocates for immigrants' rights and highlights their economic power as workers, with solidarity from labor unions, faith groups, and political allies.

Milwaukee-based immigrants rights group Voces de la Frontera has been organizing the march for 20 years, using the day to advocate for dignity and respect for immigrant communities. This year's action "comes as immigrant communities face escalating attacks, a dangerous blurring of immigration enforcement and the justice system, and repeated violations of due process and constitutional rights," according to a media release.

It also comes as part of a May Day strike, with more than 3,000 planned actions across the U.S. In Wisconsin, more than 200 businesses were poised to participate. Madison alone had three separate rallies, and school was shut down for the day.

Crowds formed at Library Mall, at West High School and East High School on Friday, marching to eventually converge on the state Capitol steps. Madison police estimate 3,000 protestors participated.

Over the years, the Day Without Immigrants has also advocated for specific policies: restoration of drivers' licenses for all, in-state tuition, pathways to citizenship. The first march in 2006 was organized in response to federal legislation to increase border security and increase penalties for people without documentation. The bill was proposed by Republican Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner. It didn't pass.

Twenty years later, are immigrant workers any further ahead? "There's been relentless attacks that have pushed back our progress," says statewide organizing director Luis Velasquez. "But just as it has been before, sometimes progress takes some steps back, and we're hoping that in the next few years, we can advance."