Immigration Reform Under the Next U.S. President

New America Media, News Report, Wendy Sefsaf, Posted: May 21, 2008

Editor's Note: Immigration advocates say the prospect of immigration reform under the next U.S. president is slim, but the way immigration plays out in the election could change the face of the Republican Party. NAM contributor Wendy Sefsaf reports from Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON -- One might assume that achieving comprehensive immigration reform would be easy once the next president is elected. After all, the three main candidates all support comprehensive immigration reform and Democrats are likely to hold the majority in Congress, so this should be a piece of cake, right?

Don’t hold your breath, was the sentiment conveyed by Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, while speaking at a conference at Georgetown Law School this week. When the new administration takes power in January, immigration will not likely be their first burning issue. With an economy and housing market on the decline, the so-called “pocketbook issuesâ€