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| President Obama joins immigration reform push | President Obama joins immigration reform push |
| (35 minutes 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 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. |
| Mr Obama will present his plan at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Mr Obama will present his plan at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
| 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 is expected to mirror the senators' framework, though possibly with a faster path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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." |