Immigration Impasse: Frustration as Comprehensive Reform Legislation Stalled

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2010— -- The Senate passed a $600 million measure Thursday to beef up U.S. border security in a rare bipartisan effort on immigration reform. It came during an equally rare special August session, held after most lawmakers have left Washington for the summer recess.

"With this bill's passage today, we have clearly shown we are serious about securing our nation's borders," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, one of only two Senators present for the voice vote.

President Obama praised the legislation, which he will sign today, as an important step "toward bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders, and restore responsibility and accountability to our broken immigration system."

But enacting sweeping changes of America's immigration system -- including a strategy to address the country's 10.8 million illegal immigrants -- remains a complex and thorny political issue with little chance of resolution in a contentious election year.

And the legislative impasse, which has frustrated voters from across the political spectrum, could have consequences for both major parties in November and beyond.

Dozens of states have enacted or considered their own immigration legislation with Congress failing to implement broad reforms. Florida became the latest state Tuesday, with a proposed law that would follow in the footsteps of Arizona's strict new immigration enforcement measure.

Meanwhile, immigrant communities across the country, particularly Hispanics, are growing disillusioned with promises by the Obama administration and lawmakers of both parties to improve the legal immigration process and provide a conditional pathway to legal status for undocumented residents.

"While the Democratic leadership may suggest that the additional enforcement resources will satisfy the clamor for more enforcement from Republicans, that is not likely to be the case," said the National Immigration Forum in a statement on passage of today's border security bill.

"When demands for more resources are met, restrictionist members of Congress make new demands. This pattern has been playing out for years now."

Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, regarded as one of the most trusted figures in Spanish-language media, now says President Obama has lost his support, too.

"President Barack Obama made a promise to have immigration reform and he broke that promise. It's very simple," Ramos said.