WASHINGTON (AP) - Tens of thousands of immigrants and activists rallied across the United States on Wednesday in a coordinated set of protests aimed at pressing Congress to approve immigration measures that would grant 11 million immigrants living here illegally a path toward citizenship.
Organisers said demonstrations were taking place in at least 18 states and in Washington, where a large, festive crowd gathered on the west lawn of the US Capitol.
"We won't win immigration reform just coming to Washington. We need to walk the streets all over the country," said Mr Ben Monterroso, national director of civic participation of the Service Employees International Union, which represents nurses and lower-wage employees including janitors and child care workers.
In Atlanta, more than 1,000 people marched around the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday midday, calling for comprehensive changes to immigration policy and an end to deportation.
In San Francisco, several hundred demonstrators marched toward the federal building holding red and orange paper flowers representing the number of people deported daily for immigration violations.
In San Diego, about 50 demonstrators gathered on a sidewalk outside the office of US Senator Dianne Feinstein, a sharp contrast to massive protests in 2006 when thousands of demonstrators shut down downtown streets to support looser immigration policies.
Senators writing a sweeping immigration bill have said they hope to finish their work this week, opening what is sure to be a raucous public debate over measures to secure the border, allow tens of thousands of foreign workers into the country and grant eventual citizenship to the millions living illegally in the United States.
A person familiar with proposed bipartisan immigration legislation being written in the Senate said on Wednesday that the bill would require greatly expanded surveillance of the US border with Mexico and greatly increased detention of border crossers in high risk areas. The person provided the information on condition of anonymity because the deliberations were private.
Groups opposed to illegal immigration say they are not worried that lawmakers or voters will be swayed by emotional messages, and argue that extending legal rights to immigrants living illegally in the US will create financial problems for cash-starved governments and spur more illegal immigration.
"There ought to be a rally for the 20 million Americans who can't find a full-time job," NumbersUSA President Roy Beck, whose group advocates reductions in immigration levels, said in a statement.
