US President George W Bush has unveiled a five point plan to for reforms on immigration. They include plans for an additional 6,000 guards to be stationed along the US border with Mexico, and the introduction of a temporary guest worker scheme: "We do not yet have full control of the border. And I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008 we will increase the number of border control officers by an additional 6,000.When these new agents are deployed, we will have more than doubled the size of the border control during my presidency," Bush said.

The US President concedes that the reforms will meet with strong reactions. Analysts say Bush is trying to appease conservative Republicans ahead of November's mid-term elections, as well as the Hispanic community. It is estimated there are 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the US, around half of them of Mexican origin. "We must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are here already. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration." If ratified by Congress, the two year programme will cost just under 2 billion US dollars - 1.5 billion euros.

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