US Senate revives migration plan

The bill is supported by President George W Bush, who has said the issue is at the top of his domestic agenda.

The legislation would bring in tighter border controls but offer 12m illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

The bill faltered in the Senate earlier this month when it failed to win the backing of enough Republicans to move to a final vote.

Senators on Tuesday voted 64-35 to resume debate on the compromise legislation, which was put together by both Republican and Democratic leaders and the White House.

Personal appeal

However, it faces a bumpy ride in the next few days as its backers try to push it through before Friday, when the Senate will break for a week-long recess, correspondents say.

Supporters of immigration reform have held a number of big rallies Senate leaders have added an extra $4.4bn (£2.2bn) funding for border security in an attempt to overcome Republican opposition.

Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, one of the sponsors of the bill, said the compromise measure "may not be perfect, but it is the best opportunity we have to do something significant and substantial".