INDIANAPOLIS -- The effects of a day-long boycott of goods and services were evident in central Indiana Monday afternoon.

The nationwide "Day Without Immigrants" rally asked Hispanic immigrants to stay home from work or school and avoid buying products on Monday.

The campaign comes as Congress debates immigration bills proposing a wide range of solutions, from toughened border security to the legalization of all 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S.

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Video: Businesses Close, Schools See Higher Absentees

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Some businesses closed up shop for the day and school attendance was down markedly in at least one Indianapolis school with a large number of Hispanic students.

A block of businesses on West Washington Street were closed Monday in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood on Indianapolis' west side. Between 50,000 and 70,000 illegal immigrants live in Indianapolis, 6News Derrik Thomas reported.

Panaderia Hispana Bakery was one of dozens of business that did not open Monday.

"It's helping our community get stronger -- get everybody together, as well as Americans, too, who come to our business and help us out a lot," said Maria Garcia, of Panaderia.

Acapulco Joe's, a popular restaurant on Illinois Street, was open for business. Manager Butch Phillips said his business was not impacted. The dining room was not filled, but there were some customers.

Acapulco Joe's employee Ricky Torres said he came to work because he has a family to feed, Thomas reported

"I just think it's a total waste of time. It's not going to affect anything," Phillips said. "Most of the Spanish people are still going to work. They are sending money back home to Mexico. They're going to work, regardless. As long as they pay their taxes and do everything they're supposed to do ... I don't have a problem with it. "

Schools Impacted By 'Day Without Immigrants'

A drop in attendance at several Indianapolis schools was attributed to the boycott, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

The Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Central Indiana encouraged parents to send their children to school, despite the calls from national Latino groups to keep the kids home.

Attendance rates varied from district to district. About 65 percent of students at Meredith Nicholson Elementary School are Hispanic. About 25 percent of the students were absent Monday.

"We talked to our downtown offices about students that might choose to be out today," said principal Beth Guhl. "They are counted as unexcused absences."

About 50 percent of Latino students at Ben Davis High School were absent, days after a controversial editorial appeared in the school's newspaper that denounced illegal immigration and the walkout.

Sunny Heights Elementary principal Kathy Handy sent a letter home with students last week encouraging parents to send their kids to school. They also advocated that students wear white as a show of solidarity.