WASHINGTON, March 24: Plans to criminalise undocumented workers in the US will also affect thousands of Pakistanis working in the service industry in major American cities.

The plans have already caused widespread protests by civil rights activists who opposed a bill passed last year by the House of Representatives that would make it a felony to be in the US illegally.

The Bush administration supported the bill, but also called for broader reforms in anticipation that the Senate would move beyond enforcement only.

The Senate is scheduled to debate the issue next week.

An estimated 11.5 million people are living in the US illegally, working mostly in the agriculture sector and the construction and service industries.

Senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, has said proposals to criminalise undocumented workers and their support networks “would literally

criminalise the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself”.

Enhanced enforcement, as envisaged in the House bill, will also affect thousands of Pakistanis working at restaurants, gas stations, pizza stores and for cab companies. The proposal will also have an adverse affect on thousands of Pakistani students doing part time jobs to pay for their tuition.