Rep. Jan Schakowsky, on Dec. 7, 2008, with laid off workers in Chicago. (AP Photo)

(CNSNews.com) -When asked on Wednesday if putting illegal aliens on a "path to citizenship" in the United States would help unemployed Americans, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) responded that “comprehensive immigration reform" would "raise the wages" of all workers.

CNSNews.com asked Schakowsky: “Do you think that allowing illegal aliens to stay in the United States and putting them on a path to citizenship, would that help the unemployed in America?”

Schakowsky responded: “We know that comprehensive immigration reform would add billions and billions to our economy. It would raise the wages, really. of all workers, because right now immigrants are – undocumented immigrants – are exploited and even paid below the minimum wage.”

“In so many ways it would help our economy, help American, Native American workers, and be a plus for all of us. It’s just another one of those issues where if the bill were called, it would pass. We have the votes. There are enough Republicans who would join Democrats in passing comprehensive immigration reform, and then our country would be more prosperous,” Schakowsky added.

CNSNews.com interviewed the congresswoman in front of the U.S. Capitol at an event titled, “Witness Wednesdays: Voices of the Unemployed." The event is held weekly in June and July and is sponsored by The Center for Effective Government, the National Employment Law Project, the Coalition on Human Needs and the National Women’s Law Center.