Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, told an estimated crowd of 1,000 at a town hall meeting Saturday that she -- at the urging of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- would work to pass a comprehensive immigration law by the end of the year.

``With your help and your stories, I believe I can help others in the Congress understand,'' said Lofgren, who became chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law when the Democrats took control of Congress in January. ``If we are just punitive to those who have started to make a life here, who we will really punish is America.''

Her pledge came as part of a carefully staged 90-minute meeting in the sanctuary of St. Patrick's Proto-Cathedral on East Santa Clara Street. The meeting was a response to the recent raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Fifteen people sat behind a table with bread baskets and bowls of fruit -- designed to look like the one at which Jesus had his last supper. Bread was broken at the end of the discussion.

Local business people, students, parents and church workers told of their hardships. The participants told the three elected officials -- Lofgren, Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr and San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo -- about the effect of immigration laws on the economy, families and the community.

``We come today from many different faith traditions,'' said Father Paul Locatelli, president of Santa Clara University, ``but we come as one family united in one voice to support comprehensive immigration reform which is fair and just.''

A Morgan Hill grower said farmers weren't able to harvest all their crops last year because the crackdown at the border stopped migrants from making it this far north. The director of hiring at a software company said visa restrictions meant jobs were being sent overseas. A janitor who said he was an engineer in Mexico now picks up trash at a mall. The one- to three-minute monologues were labeled as testimonials.

Edgar Quiroz, an 18-year-old student at De Anza College, cried as he told the audience that he couldn't get financial aid because he lacks documents.

``There are many opportunities other people have,'' he said, ``that I do not get.''

The crowd gave Quiroz a standing ovation and began chanting, ``Si Se Puede,'' Spanish for ``Yes, we can.''

Lilia Garrido, speaking for event co-organizer People Acting in Community Together, said fear has become prevalent in the immigrant community.

``Once ICE starts knocking on doors, they end up arresting and reporting many people who have done nothing wrong,'' she said. ``How can we be safe in our own community when people are even afraid to talk with the police?''

Carr and Liccardo assured the audience it is safe to cooperate with San Jose police. When a Spanish-speaking Liccardo offered his office's phone number -- encouraging people to report complaints about the police -- several people wrote down the number.

``We are not in the business of arresting people because of their immigration status,'' he said, announcing that he proposed a resolution Wednesday to officially express the city's concern over the recent raids.

Carr told the crowd that her office could assist residents who lack documents in their quest for citizenship.

``We can help people clear roadblocks to immigration,'' she said. ``We are here to protect you.''

``We are really blessed with local officials who want to address this problem,'' said Father John Pedigo, and a moderator of the meeting, pointing at Lofgren. ``This is leadership.''

Excitement infused the crowd, many of them Spanish-speakers aided by translation headsets. A band of guitars and an accordion played festive music, and a muted light through stained glass reflected on the audience.

``I think they were very serious because they believe in justice and peace,'' said Aurora Munocz, a parishioner at St. Patrick's and mother of three. ``We want them to follow through. That's the reason we're here.''