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President Obama joins immigration reform push President Obama makes immigration reform push
(about 2 hours later)
US President Barack Obama will try to build support later for an immigration overhaul, a day after a bipartisan group of senators said the time was right for reform. US President Barack Obama has rallied support for "common-sense, comprehensive" immigration reform.
Mr Obama will present his plan at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. He made his case at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, a day after a bipartisan group of senators said the time was right for reform.
It is expected to mirror the senators' framework, though possibly with a faster path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants. It partly mirrors the senators' plan, including a path to citizenship for many of an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US.
The move reflects the growing influence of Hispanic voters.The move reflects the growing influence of Hispanic voters.
Speaking at 11:55 local time (19:55 GMT) on Tuesday, Mr Obama will make his case for an immigration revamp, which is expected to largely reflect a blueprint he rolled out in 2011. In his opening remarks, Mr Obama said: "The time has come for common sense, comprehensive immigration reform."
The US president is not expected to unveil legislation, but to rally support for the proposals promoted on Monday by a group of four Democratic and four Republican senators. He noted that many of the undocumented workers believed to be in the US were already "woven into the fabric of our lives", and there were economic imperatives for reform.
Like the bipartisan plan, Mr Obama is also expected to push for an overhaul of the existing legal immigration system and for securing US borders. Bipartisan approach?
Mr Obama's case for an immigration revamp reflects a blueprint he rolled out in 2011, though that did not go far, to the disappointment of Latino voters.
The US president did not unveil legislation, but championed the proposals outlined on Monday by a group of four Democratic and four Republican senators.
"The good news is that - for the first time in many years - Republicans and Democrats seem ready to tackle this problem together," he said, urging Congress to act.
Like the bipartisan plan, Mr Obama also backed an overhaul of the existing legal immigration system and securing US borders.
His 2011 blueprint also focused on a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship, as well as making it easier for businesses to verify the legal status of workers.His 2011 blueprint also focused on a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship, as well as making it easier for businesses to verify the legal status of workers.
But he asked: "Do we have the resolve as a people, as a country, as a government?" He warned that immigration was a polarising issue, even though he believed reform was "within our grasp".
Under his previous proposal, Mr Obama required those in the US illegally to register with the government and pass a background check, as well as pay a series of fines and back taxes if necessary.Under his previous proposal, Mr Obama required those in the US illegally to register with the government and pass a background check, as well as pay a series of fines and back taxes if necessary.
After eight years, individuals would be allowed to become legal permanent residents and could eventually become citizens five years later.After eight years, individuals would be allowed to become legal permanent residents and could eventually become citizens five years later.
The process is similar to the path outlined by senators on Monday - paying taxes and passing background checks would allow undocumented immigrants to live and work in the US legally but not qualify for benefits.The process is similar to the path outlined by senators on Monday - paying taxes and passing background checks would allow undocumented immigrants to live and work in the US legally but not qualify for benefits.
Appeal to Hispanics
Once immigrants are able to apply for permanent residency, they would do so behind everyone else who had already applied for a green card.Once immigrants are able to apply for permanent residency, they would do so behind everyone else who had already applied for a green card.
But the senators' proposals allow undocumented immigrants to start the process of becoming citizens only after US borders are deemed secure, a link not expected to feature in the president's plan. But the senators' proposals would allow undocumented immigrants to start the process of becoming citizens only after US borders are deemed secure, a link that did not feature in the president's plan.
At their news conference on Monday, the so-called gang of eight promoted their blueprint, which they hope could pass the Senate by summer.At their news conference on Monday, the so-called gang of eight promoted their blueprint, which they hope could pass the Senate by summer.
While passage of such a bill is not assured in the Senate, it faces a tougher route in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.While passage of such a bill is not assured in the Senate, it faces a tougher route in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Many conservative lawmakers there denounce a path to legalisation as an "amnesty" for lawbreakers.Many conservative lawmakers there denounce a path to legalisation as an "amnesty" for lawbreakers.
But many Republicans recognise their party's hard line on immigration has become a liability, after November's election when the Democratic president won more than 70% of the Latino vote.But many Republicans recognise their party's hard line on immigration has become a liability, after November's election when the Democratic president won more than 70% of the Latino vote.
Arizona Senator John McCain, the former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Mr Obama in 2008, said on Monday: "The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens.Arizona Senator John McCain, the former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Mr Obama in 2008, said on Monday: "The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens.
"And we realise that there are many issues on which we think we are in agreement with our Hispanic citizens, but this is a pre-eminent issue with those citizens.""And we realise that there are many issues on which we think we are in agreement with our Hispanic citizens, but this is a pre-eminent issue with those citizens."