Families — most of them not immigrants — pulled some 450 children from day care and preschool, about 70% of those enrolled in Minnesota alone, where most of the organization’s centers are, Denzer said. Several staffers who had been on the fence decided to take the day after the show of support.

Without Immigrants protest was planned for Monday across the country, including some businesses in the Chicago area. The protest aims to show the importance of immigrant labor and spending in the local economy.