The issue of immigration – past and future – is at the top, or near of the top, of every political party poll in this country. If the strength of the economy and resulting employment is not the most often checked, it is immigration.

Going forward, the question is whether potential immigrants should be favorably scored on their likelihood of adding to the economy, or whether families should be made whole. Looking back, it is whether those who arrived illegally should be able to stay and whether they should become citizens. Within the latter group are those who were brought here as children, are contributing and succeeding, and know no other country.

While national polls show strong support for embracing immigrants who are here and engaged, and who have not committed crimes, members of Congress cannot come together to shape a path forward. And with a change in president 15-months ago, supported by the Republican Party, federal immigration enforcement has broadened its sweep to arrest almost anyone who is in the country illegally.

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