Washington, April 8 (EFE) Thousands of people demonstrated in Los Angeles to protest White House immigration policies.

Protesters Saturday marched from Broadway Ave. to Los Angeles City Hall protesting US policy of setting tough measures to obtain citizenship.

Many taking part in the event danced to the beat of Mexican ranchera and carried American flags, as well as banners asking for "Amnesty now."

Pro-immigrant activists say that many of the undocumented workers in the area feel betrayed by US President George W. Bush, who for a long time they had considered an ally.

A draft of immigration reform from the White House that was leaked to the press last week asked for the establishment of a new "Z" visa, which would allow undocumented workers to ask for three-year work permits.

These visas could be renewed indefinitely, but would cost $3,500 each time they expired.

To obtain permits and become legal residents, the undocumented workers would have to return to their countries of origin, apply for legal entrance into the US at the Embassy or Consulate and pay a fine of $10,000.

The proposal is criticized by pro-immigrant groups, the Democratic Party, the Catholic Church and labour unions, which argue that the costs of work permits and the application for a green card to obtain permanent residency would cost more than $20,000 each, a prohibitive amount for workers at the bottom of the pay scale.

The plan is much more conservative than the one approved last year by the Senate, which had Bush's approval.

That bill would have allowed many of the 12 million undocumented workers to remain in the US, where they could work and apply for residency after learning English, paying minimal fines and getting up to date with their taxes.

Many conservatives in the Senate opposed the measure that eventually failed to win approval in a House of Representatives dominated at the time by Republicans and which approved at the end of 2005 a tough immigration-reform bill that sparked protest demonstrations around the country.