The official aim of a national conference in downtown Chicago this week was integrating immigrants into the U.S. mainstream. But many of the 125 advocates, scholars and public officials at the event voiced a preoccupation.

The attendees came from 20 states for panels such as “Educating Leaders at the State Level” and “Citizenship and Citizen Engagement.” But the underlying concern was a backlash that has stalled efforts to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants.

Attorney Jennifer Nagda works in Chicago for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She says the nation’s immigration debate is centering on stereotypes instead of how the newcomers are revitalizing towns and fueling the economy.

NAGDA: Immigrants are contributing to the tax base. Immigrants are homeowners. Immigrants are small-business owners.

Other panelists noted that deportations have continued on a record pace. Yesterday immigration agents swept up 23 temporary workers in Joliet. Officials called the workers illegal aliens.

I’m Chip Mitchell, Chicago Public Radio.