People attending the Netroots Nation march begin a half mile march in the heat behind a ‘Ice out of 4th Ave jail!’ banner from the Phoenix Convention Center to the jail and Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office to protest his immigration policies on July 17, 2015.

PHOENIX – At Netroots Nation in Phoenix this year, progressive activists had many topics to discuss: the upcoming presidential election, how Democrats could win control of Congress, LGBT rights. But just one issue was front and center: immigration reform.

Each year, the conference’s organizers choose the location for the following year’s event based on what they determine to be the defining issue for the progressive movement. This year, thousands of progressive activists from around the country coalesced in Phoenix ready to rally for immigration reform in a state where immigration has been a subject of contentious debate.

Arizona has pushed several harsh anti-immigration laws over the years, including SB 1070, which was signed into law by Gov Jan Brewer in 2010 and requires police officers to check the immigration papers of anyone they arrest, stop, or detain whom they believe may be in the country illegally.

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