Thousands of people packed into the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa for a prayer vigil and march in support of immigration reform.
Eleven people who have spent the last week walking 150 miles from Orlando to Tampa sat in the front row.
Organizers said they represent the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Martha Rosales took part in the walk. She said her father was deported five years ago.
"It's very bad because every birthday, every Christmas, it's something that hurts the family and it's something that shouldn't be happening," she said.
Bishop Robert N. Lynch, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, told the audience the church supports immigration reform that protects families from deportation and creates a clear pathway to citizenship.
"The circumstances of the holy family over 2,000 years ago was only slightly different than those which drive people to immigrate to the US today...safety, security and hope for a better future," said Bishop Lynch.
The crowd then marched from the church to the Federal Courthouse in downtown Tampa.
They carried signs and waved American flags, singing in unison and marching in solidarity.
"Congress needs to act now. We're walking in prayer," said event organizer, Nanci Palacios. "We hope that with this pilgrimage and with this walk of faith that they take into account that effort."
Meanwhile, Rosales said seeing so many people taking part in the march gave her hope that she will be reunited with her father soon.
"It would mean the world," she said.