Fundamental Immigration Reform on the Horizon?

From the Immigration Daily (Oct. 12, 2005) at www.ilw.com

“The severe retrogression that we have witnessed of late has brought to the fore some critical problems with our system of legal, employment-based immigration. Congress is apparently working on several allievating measures. The scale of the problems, this time, however, is so large, that some of the solutions that Congress enacts may have repurcussions beyond legal, employment-based immigration. What retrogression fundamentally highlights is that our system for legal, employment-based immigration is one where demand and supply are totally out-of-whack. In bringing them closer to alignment, Congress will likely move some direction along solving the larger mis-alignment between supply and demand that is the foundation for the large undocumented population that we currently have. Of course, there are some like Rep. Hayworth who apparently believes that the US Congress can suspend the law of supply and demand, but fortunately, he is in the minority in holding this opinion, as a vote on the floor of the House will likely show. Immigration policy over the next few weeks and months will be at a critical juncture – a wise choice by Congress will bring much benefit to the nation, and an unwise choice will doubtless set up a much bigger confrontation with reality in the future. In ordinary circumstances, we can count on our politicians to postpone the inevitable to a day of future reckoning, though one should not blame them overly for this natural shortcoming. But this time, a postponement may have significant political costs to one or both political parties. The stars appear to be aligning for fundamental immigration reform. It may be here earlier than anyone thinks.”

Isn’t it wishful thinking to suggest the possibility that “fundamental immigration reform” is a distinct possibility in the near future?   What shape might that form take?  Would the Minutemen’s proposals carry sway in these times?

KJ