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| US migrants rally for law reforms | US migrants rally for law reforms |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of immigrants are taking part in marches in cities across the US to demand reform of immigration laws. | Thousands of immigrants are taking part in marches in cities across the US to demand reform of immigration laws. |
| They want to see better treatment for the estimated 12m illegal immigrants, many of them Latino, living in the US. | They want to see better treatment for the estimated 12m illegal immigrants, many of them Latino, living in the US. |
| The turnout is not expected to match rallies held on 1 May last year, when more than a million people took part. | The turnout is not expected to match rallies held on 1 May last year, when more than a million people took part. |
| Legislation which would offer a "path to citizenship" for illegal migrants as well as tougher border controls is currently stalled in the US Congress. | Legislation which would offer a "path to citizenship" for illegal migrants as well as tougher border controls is currently stalled in the US Congress. |
| The Senate proposal, which included a guest worker programme, was backed by President George W Bush last year. | The Senate proposal, which included a guest worker programme, was backed by President George W Bush last year. |
| But the plan has come to nothing amid opposition from Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. | But the plan has come to nothing amid opposition from Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. |
| Reports of a leaked White House plan under which illegal migrants would be charged hefty sums for work visas and residency sparked fresh protests last month from immigrant groups. | Reports of a leaked White House plan under which illegal migrants would be charged hefty sums for work visas and residency sparked fresh protests last month from immigrant groups. |
| Marchers 'afraid' | Marchers 'afraid' |
| Rallies are taking place in a number of major cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and Phoenix, Arizona. | Rallies are taking place in a number of major cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and Phoenix, Arizona. |
| However, organisers predicted that the marches would not rival the huge turnout last year, when more than a million protesters boycotted jobs, schools and businesses in order to show the importance of immigrants to the nation's economy. | However, organisers predicted that the marches would not rival the huge turnout last year, when more than a million protesters boycotted jobs, schools and businesses in order to show the importance of immigrants to the nation's economy. |
| They say many of last year's demonstrators have become disheartened by the lack of progress in Congress on immigration law reforms. | They say many of last year's demonstrators have become disheartened by the lack of progress in Congress on immigration law reforms. |
| Rallies have taken place in a number of major US citiesOthers have been put off taking part by an increase in government raids targeting illegal workers and the fear of repercussions from employers if they down tools for the day, organisers add. | |
| "Our people are afraid to come out and march," Elias Bermudez, of the Phoenix-based Immigrants Without Borders group, told Reuters news agency. | "Our people are afraid to come out and march," Elias Bermudez, of the Phoenix-based Immigrants Without Borders group, told Reuters news agency. |
| He anticipated that 5,000 to 10,000 protesters would take part in Tuesday's rally in Phoenix, far fewer than last year. | He anticipated that 5,000 to 10,000 protesters would take part in Tuesday's rally in Phoenix, far fewer than last year. |
| Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the city's first Hispanic mayor in more than a century, said he was not expecting to see the kind of numbers that brought the city to a standstill in 2006. | Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the city's first Hispanic mayor in more than a century, said he was not expecting to see the kind of numbers that brought the city to a standstill in 2006. |
| He told the Associated Press news agency that school pupils who went on strike were failing to honour the sacrifices of immigrant families who came to the US to give their children the chance of a better education. | He told the Associated Press news agency that school pupils who went on strike were failing to honour the sacrifices of immigrant families who came to the US to give their children the chance of a better education. |
| Separation threat | Separation threat |
| The immigration debate continues to divide opinion in the US. | The immigration debate continues to divide opinion in the US. |
| Many businesses benefit from migrant labour, but immigration opponents call for tighter border controls to protect national security. | Many businesses benefit from migrant labour, but immigration opponents call for tighter border controls to protect national security. |
| Many campaigners for immigrants' rights have focused on the threat of separation faced by families where one or both parents are illegal immigrants but whose children were born in the US and so have US citizenship. | Many campaigners for immigrants' rights have focused on the threat of separation faced by families where one or both parents are illegal immigrants but whose children were born in the US and so have US citizenship. |
| The US Congress, controlled by the Democrats since last November, has so far failed to find a compromise on proposed reforms. | The US Congress, controlled by the Democrats since last November, has so far failed to find a compromise on proposed reforms. |
| President Bush has said he wants to see new legislation in place by the end of this year. Analysts say the issue could stall if it drags on into 2008, when attention will turn to the presidential elections. | President Bush has said he wants to see new legislation in place by the end of this year. Analysts say the issue could stall if it drags on into 2008, when attention will turn to the presidential elections. |