The Hill
Immigration groups eye piecemeal reform as Reid focuses on energy
By Alexander Bolton - 06/05/10 12:17 PM ET

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plan to move energy legislation in July has cast a pall over the chances of comprehensive immigration reform.

The signal from Reid (D-Nev.) that Senate Democrats will focus on energy over the next two months has changed the strategy of some pro-immigration groups.

Instead of pushing for comprehensive reform, they will focus on smaller proposals that could have more bipartisan support.

One such popular proposal is the Dream Act, legislation sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) that would put illegal immigrants who came to the country at a young age on the path to legal permanent residence.

The second proposal is the Ag Jobs bill. It would allow illegal farm workers and agricultural guest workers to obtain temporary immigration status with the possibility of becoming permanent residents.

Pro-immigration advocates believe the legislation could attract the support of conservative farm-state senators.

“If you’re talking about the whole comprehensive reform, I think we can probably write it off before the elections at this point,â€