More than 200 day laborers and advocates are expected to gather in the Washington area to protest immigration raids in communities, brainstorm ways to combat negative stereotypes and discuss job standards during a weekend convention that begins today.

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network, a day laborer advocacy group based in Los Angeles, will host the event. Its leaders say they expect day laborers from 13 states and the District of Columbia. This afternoon, the day laborers will meet with their congressional representatives and hold a rally outside the Capitol to call for a moratorium on immigration raids.