Millions of immigrant workers in the US are expected to participate in a nationwide boycott of work and schools in a protest over immigration reform.
Protesters are calling for legislation to help legitimise the status of an estimated 12 million people living illegally in the United States.
Boycott organizers want amnesty and eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants and predict many of America's major cities will grind to a halt as immigrants walk off their jobs, keep their children away from school, and attend massive rallies.
While the economic impact of the protests, dubbed the "Day Without Immigrants" is hard to predict, some analysts expect a major social impact akin to the dawning of the US civil rights movement in the 1960s.
Proponents say the move is needed to force President George W. Bush and Congress to end an election-year dispute and enact legislation to help the estimated 12 million people living illegally in the United States.
"We are all losers if we continue to play this sinister game of condemning a segment of the population to live and work in the conditions of modern-day slaves," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of the Latino Movement USA.
Teachers' unions in major cities have said children should not be punished for walking out of class.
Agencies
Large US meat processors, including Cargill Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and Seaboard Corp. said they will close plants.
Mr Bush called together Republican and Democratic senators last week to revive a compromise immigration reform Bill that stalled on the Senate floor before Easter.
Senators are expected to return to the Bill next week and Republican and Democratic leaders hope to reach a deal by the end of this month.
Most senators support a Bill that would allow most illegal immigrants to remain in the US and to embark on a path to earned citizenship, but the House of Representatives has passed a Bill that would impose tough penalties on illegal immigrants, none of whom would be allowed to remain in the US.