Tens of thousands at US immigration reform rallies

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have rallied across the US in a mass call for citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.

The co-ordinated protests were designed to press Congress to act as senators negotiate an immigration reform bill.

In Washington DC cheering crowds gathered outside the Capitol, and more than 1,000 demonstrated in Atlanta.

Lawmakers are expected soon to unveil a bill that would grant a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants.

The push for immigration reform follows an election in which Hispanic voters overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama and Democratic candidates.

Most of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US are Hispanic, and members of the Republican Party have acknowledged they must support some kind of immigration deal if they hope to win more Hispanic votes, analysts say.