Web Posted: 01/12/2009 12:00 CST

Immigration issue on back burner
By Hernán Rozemberg - Express-News

With all eyes still on the nation's plunging economy, it's hard to remember the last time President-elect Barack Obama made any mention of immigration — a campaign issue he pledged to tackle in his first year in office.

And though they understand the necessary focus on the economy, activists on both sides of the fiery immigration debate are still preparing for political battle.

Immigrant advocates are making a pledge of their own: to hold Obama accountable for his campaign promises. They estimate Congress won't take up the issue until September and, if the effort succeeds, look for a new law overhauling the current system by March 2010, said Frank Sharry, director of America's Voice in Washington, D.C.

On the other side of the fence, activists pushing for immigration restrictions — deflated by the new Democratic domination in the executive and legislative branches — remained optimistic that hard economic times will impede making a mass amnesty program palatable to the general public.

For now, Obama has kept mum on the matter, repeating on his transition Web site his pledge for “comprehensive immigration reformâ€