An Illinois representative gave a rousing speech at a church in South Providence, R.I. on Friday in support of the cooperative passage of immigration reform. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Ill., one of the leaders in the movement for immigration reform, urged House Republicans to pass a bipartisan, comprehensive reform bill. 

Gutiérrez said he is "excited about this moment," as House Republicans are soon expected to release an immigration plan that could include a path to legal status for 11 million undocumented immigrants. He spoke to the crowd at St. Michael the Archangel Church that included religious, political, labor and community leaders, the Providence Journal reports. 

Gutiérrez, a House negotiator on a bipartisan immigration reform bill, was invited to speak by Rep. David N. Cicilline, D-R.I., Gutiérrez is also the Democratic chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He has been traveling around the country over the past year to garner support for the bill's passage in the House. 

"Tonight, a new member of the House Judiciary Committee - where this [issue] will be debated, invited me," Gutiérrez said, speaking of Cicilline's new position, which was announced Thursday.

"He is a fighter for immigrants and justice and I am proud to stand with him," Gutiérrez said. "When we go back, we're going to negotiate, we're going to fight, we're going get the work done."

Gutiérrez and his colleagues have not yet persuaded House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to allow a vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Boehner and the majority of GOP Republicans are opposed to passing sweeping, comprehensive reform, and instead support the passage of piecemeal legislation. 

However, Gutiérrez said major gains have been made since his first visit to Providence, and believes Republicans will cooperate. 

"In 2009, we began a campaign to stop deportations. A 30-city tour across America began right here in Providence, and the church was as filled as it is today," he said to the crowd.

"I came back two years later: we were insisting that families staying together should be our priority," he said, referring to U.S. deportation policies.

"In a couple of weeks, the Republican majority of the House is ready to unveil its immigration reform principles. They are ready to discuss legalization" of undocumented immigrants, he continued. 

"I am excited about this moment in which we live. But if you think you have nothing to do, you are wrong. Get on the phone; get on the Internet; write a letter," he urged. "Tell John Boehner to stand by his principles and work with the Democrats to pass immigration reform."

Cicilline added that the current immigration system "hurts families; it hurts our communities and it undermines opportunities for economic growth, and we need to fix it now. The good news is, almost everyone agrees with us."

He said they have support from political, religious and labor leaders, as well as from the American people. 

"I and Congressman Gutiérrez and our co-sponsors in the House, co-sponsored a bill that will provide an earned path to citizenship, among other things. Now is the time, the votes are there to accomplish it," he said.