Immigration reform: US senators in bipartisan deal

A bipartisan group of US senators has unveiled a plan for sweeping reform of the immigration system this year.

The framework calls for a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, while tightening border security.

The eight senators promoted their proposals a day before President Barack Obama presents his own blueprint.

Correspondents say conservatives' hard line on immigration has become an electoral liability for Republicans.

In last November's elections, President Obama, a Democrat, won more than 70% of the Hispanic vote.

Senator Graham said he hoped the plan would be strongly supported in the Senate - improving its chances of approval in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said of the bipartisan group's proposal: "We welcome this. We think this is positive."

President Obama is to travel on Tuesday to Las Vegas, Nevada, to lay out his own immigration-reform vision, which is expected to be similar to that of the senators.