Calls intensified on Monday for passage of legislation to give permanent legal status to hundreds of thousands of Dreamers around the country.

Immigrants and their supporters held rallies, including in Dallas, while an unusual push came from Catholic parishioners who signed cards urging the Texas congressional delegation to help the Dreamers — young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

Six months ago, President Donald Trump said he’d phase out the 2012 program allowing certain Dreamers to legally live and work in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, initiative. Trump set a March 5 deadline for Congress to come up with a law allowing them to remain. Congress hasn’t delivered, although judges have extended DACA permit renewals while awaiting the outcome of court cases.

About 700,000 young immigrants are in DACA. Their work permits have already begun expiring and are expected to expire at an accelerated pace this year and next. The Dallas area had the nation’s third-largest concentration of DACA recipients.

"DACA was always a temporary protection," said Edwin Romero, a 26-year-old in DACA through next year. "Our community and our elected officials need to know that DACA is not a permanent solution."

Earlier this year, two courts ordered the federal government to begin receiving DACA renewals again, and a federal immigration agency complied. The Trump administration has appealed.

The Trump administration argues that it was unlawful for President Barack Obama to establish the DACA program through an executive action, rather than legislation.

Monday afternoon, Trump tweeted, “It’s March 5th and the Democrats are nowhere to be found on DACA. Gave them 6 months, they just don’t care. Where are they? We are ready to make a deal!”

A slogan reading "Clean Dream Act" is projected on Dallas City Hall during a DACA protest Monday, March 5, 2018. (Rex C Curry / Special Contributor)

Romero, a paralegal, is part of the North Texas Dream Team, organizers of a rally Monday night at Dallas City Hall. He was brought to Dallas as a 6-year-old by his parents.

He led a rally crowd of more than 100 in a chant of “I am somebody. I deserve full equality.”

It’s March 5th and the Democrats are nowhere to be found on DACA. Gave them 6 months, they just don’t care. Where are they? We are ready to make a deal! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2018

Catholics organize

Support for Dreamers has quietly been building in certain Roman Catholic churches in the Dallas area as Pope Francis has increased his public defense of immigrants and refugees.

About 11,000 parishioners signed cards urging passage of legislation that will provide Dreamers with permanent legal status.

One card, signed by Luis Arraiza, the parish friar at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dallas, reads, “Dear Senator John Cornyn, As a person of faith, I believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, particularly that of children. I write to urge you to work with all deliberate speed to find a bipartisan solution for Dreamers that includes a path to citizenship.”

He sent the same letter to fellow Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Organizers for the campaign are Dallas Area Interfaith, a coalition of largely church-based groups. And Faith in Texas, a similar coalition, is planning a rosary Tuesday night to focus on Dreamers at an Arlington Catholic church.

“Now is a critical time and there needs to be an organized constituency standing for immigration reform,” said Josephine Lopez-Paul, the lead organizer with Dallas Area Interfaith. “These are our brothers and sisters and the church will stand with them.”