NEW YORK (WPIX / AP) - Hundreds of construction workers from the tri-state area went to Washington, D.C. today to demand immigration reform.

Eighteen hundred people boarded buses in Manhattan. They met up with thousands of other immigration advocates representing labor, civic, community and business organizations.

Some lawmakers oppose any attempt to help an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants become U.S. citizens while others insist on stronger border controls first.

President Barack Obama, who promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year, sought to reassure those at the rally with a video message presented on giant screens at the National Mall. The president said he was committed to working with Congress this year on a comprehensive bill to fix a "broken immigration system."

Obama said problems include families being torn apart, employers gaming the system and police officers struggling to keep communities safe.

Political experts say the comprehensive immigration reform has been put on the back-burner because it is such a hot topic, especially in an election year.