Hundreds rallied in front of the Federal Courthouse near downtown Eugene Saturday protesting conditions in detention centers where immigrant children are being held as they seek asylum in the United States.

Protesters set up cages on the corner of East 8th Street near Coburg Road with children inside, held signs that read "no one is illegal on stolen land," and chanted "no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here."

The rally, which grew to more than 200 people, began at 11 a.m. and continued at the street corners near the courthouse until 1 p.m. Speakers stood up and shared experiences about their time at the border and the detention centers, and highlighted local organizations that work to help immigrants.

"We collectively have a voice," said organizer Catherine Clinton. "And this is what our community needs right now, this is what our country needs right now and this is what our world needs right now — is for us to join forces, join voices and stand up to the inhumane treatment happening in our communities and at the border."

Migrant children and teens detained for days or weeks by U.S. border authorities have described squalid living conditions in Texas detention centers where they say there isn't enough food, they aren't able to regularly brush their teeth or take baths, don't have adequate access to medical care and are forced to endure the constant glare of lights at all hours of the day, making sleeping difficult.

Advocates are seeking an emergency order to require immediate inspections of the Texas facilities, access for doctors and the prompt release of children to parents or other close relatives in the United States. The government said in a filing Thursday that the requests by plaintiffs would “impose extensive obligations” and an emergency order wasn’t the right way to do it, the Associated Press reported last week.

Patricia Toledo, an advocate for immigrant rights, also spoke at the Eugene rally. Toledo gave a speech to the crowd first in Spanish, then translated to English.

"These parents make a huge effort to be happy every day and they teach appreciation and love for life to their children," Toledo said. "Faith in God and their inner peace and force of strength to make things better, it's what makes these families succeed ... This faith and the strength is a great gift and treasure that they bring to our communities in Eugene and the rest of places in Oregon."

As the rally neared its end, a group of about 50 people started a march toward Saturday Market chanting and holding signs denouncing ICE.

"We have to make a public stand against the concentration camps on the border and the rising xenophobia in our country," said Karen Kelsky, who attended the rally. "(The rally) was a combination of raising awareness of what is happening and mobilizing the community here in Eugene so we know about the organizations locally (working at the border.)"

Kel Weinhold also came out to protest Saturday and said it is easy when living in relative comfort in a city such as Eugene to ignore the reality of events happening elsewhere in the country. So, protests such as Saturday's are important to bring that to light.

"We have children in cages, period," Weinhold said. "And we cannot look away."

Follow Jordyn Brown on Twitter @thejordynbrown or email at jbrown@registerguard.com.

This story included reporting from the Associated Press.