US: Joining what some are calling the largest mobilisation of immigrants ever in the US, a crowd estimated by police at more than 500,000 boisterously marched in Los Angeles on Saturday to protest over federal legislation that would crack down on undocumented immigrants.
The new law would penalise those who help immigrants and build a security wall on the US's southern border. Spirited but peaceful marchers, immigrants alongside labour, religious, and civil-rights groups, waved American flags and chanted, "Si se puede! (Yes we can!)".
It was believed to be the largest protest march in Los Angeles history, far surpassing Vietnam War demonstrations and the 70,000 who rallied against Proposition 187, a 1994 state initiative that denied public benefits to undocumented migrants. Police said there were no arrests or injuries except for a few cases of exhaustion.
The demonstrators, many clad in white shirts to symbolise peace, included both longtime residents and the newly arrived.
Arbelica Lazo (40), illegally immigrated from El Salvador 20 years ago but said she now owns two businesses and pays $7,000 a year in taxes.
Jose Alberto Salvador (33), arrived in Los Angeles illegally just four months ago to find work to support the wife and five children he left behind. In his native Guatemala, he said, what little work he could find paid $10 a day.
"As much as we need this country, we love this country," Mr Salvador said, waving a stick with both the American and Guatemalan flag. "This country gives us opportunities we don't get at home."
Saturday's rally, spurred by anger over legislation passed by the US House of Representatives last December, was part of what advocates are calling an unprecedented effort to organise immigrants and their supporters across the nation.
Immigration control groups, however, say the majority of Americans believe high levels of illegal immigration have harmed the US quality of life and support restrictions on them.
Today the US Senate judiciary committee is scheduled to resume work on a comprehensive immigration reform proposal. The Senate committee's version includes elements of various Bills, including a guest worker programme and a path to legalisation for the nation's 10 to 12 million undocumented immigrants proposed by Republican Senator John McCain and Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy.
In addition, Senate majority leader Bill Frist has introduced a Bill that would strengthen border security, crack down on employers of illegal immigrants and increase visas for workers. Frist has said he would take his Bill to the floor tomorrow if the committee does not finish its work today.
Ultimately, the two chambers' versions must be reconciled before any law can be passed.
Although President Bush has advocated a guest worker programme and attracted significant Hispanic support for his views, Senator Frist's Bill doesn't include one.
In his Saturday radio address, Mr Bush urged all sides of the emotional debate to tone down their rhetoric, calling for a balanced approach between more secure borders and more temporary foreign workers.
In recent weeks hundreds of thousands of people have staged marches calling for immigration reform in more than a dozen cities. In Denver, police on Saturday said more than 50,000 people gathered to urge the state senate to reject a resolution supporting a ballot that would deny many government services to illegal immigrants in Colorado.
On Friday tens of thousands of people were estimated to have joined in rallies in cities including Phoenix and Atlanta and staged school walkouts, marches and work stoppages.
The Catholic Church and other religious communities have launched immigrant rights campaigns, with Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles taking a leading role against the Bill and calling on his priests to defy provisions that would make aiding undocumented immigrants a felony.
A recent Zogby poll found 62 per cent of Americans surveyed wanted more restrictive immigration policies.