What's likely to happen immigration-wise in 2008?

It is clear to this blogger, and most other experts in the field, that comprehensive immigration reform will not happen this year, certainly not until the election year 'poli-bickering' is over.

However, the idea of some reform, in piecemeal form, is not unlikely. Here are some thoughts:

1. The public still demands the focus to be on enforcement. So I don't foresee that this political need, or cover, will diminish in the near term at all. I predict we will continue to hear anti-immigration soundbites certainly until the November 2008Presidential Election.

2. If the Congress feels that the public is otherwise distracted by the inflammed and xenophobic rhetoric, then they may get on with actually making progress on immigration, including a/ creating some sort of guest worker/low skill program; and, b/ adding more visas to the H1b category (for higher skilled workers). The nurse shortage should also be addressed.

3. Regarding any sort of amnesty for those illegally here, I don't see that happening. I cross my fingers that Congress will deal with the undocumented, but don't hold your breadth.

4/ I think "our" representatives will concentrate more on a silly border fence, and even more importantly, and seriously, on creating a workable "employer verification system" mandated by earlier immigration legislation. This system, of course, would not work without a true national identity or smart card issued to everyone, including US citizens - and I wonder whether this is palatable with the American public.

5/ As things stand now, employers hiring anyone must utilize the I-9 form with serious penalities imposed for any discrimination. This provision was put in the law as being necessary to avoid employers only asking for documents from those that "don't look American". For the new system to work the employer must be able to verify everyone's document instantly. This means not only must we all be in the computer system, but that the system actually works....hmmm?

Back to ground zero - no immigration progress? Maybe.

In conclusion:

The best way to deal with this mess is to understand that we are all tracked anyway, so let's get on with it! I personally don't have a problem with a national identity or smart card myself and I think the public is changing too. In fact, the new U.S. passport is a smart card.

As stated, anyone with a U.S. passport, or who leaves and enters the country is.....tracked! Use a credit card, buy a airline ticket, groceries, or gas? Tracked. Does the U.S. government have a secret database? No one really knows. You get the picture. Privacy IS really a thing of the past.

Let's not even go there...you guessed it - the web!