Court deals blow to US migrants

The issue of immigration has proved divisive

The Supreme Court has said a deported Mexican who lived in the US for 20 years cannot seek legal residency, in a blow to long-term illegal immigrants.

The judges upheld the decision of the immigration authorities in the case of Humberto Fernandez Vargas.

He had applied for citizenship but was sent back to Mexico under rules for migrants with prior deportation orders.

Correspondents say that the ruling will send a warning to some 11.5m illegal immigrants in the US.

It comes as the two congressional chambers are locked in a battle over new legislation on the high-profile issue.

Immigration is key as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress in November's mid-term polls.

Rival bills

Mr Fernandez Vargas was born in Mexico but worked north of the border in the 1970s, when he was deported several times.

He returned to the US in the early 1980s and then stayed for more than 20 years, marrying an American citizen and starting a company.

When he applied for citizenship he was deported under a law that streamlines the expulsion process for illegal migrants.

The BBC's Nick Miles in Washington says the case could have a profound impact on illegal migrants in the US, who are in a state of legal limbo.

Legislation to legalise most of them has been passed in the Senate, but a rival bill in the House of Representatives rejects such a move.

Both seek to tighten border security, but while the Senate bill includes a guest-worker programme and offers illegal immigrants a "path to citizenship", the House bill seeks to deport illegal immigrants and make it a felony to remain in the US illegally.

US President George W Bush has endorsed a final bill along the lines of that backed by the Senate.

Millions of migrants took to the streets in May to protest against stricter measures to keep immigrants out.