ADVOCATES SUGGEST PIECEMEAL ALTERNATIVE

Piecemeal immigration reform legislation may just be what is needed during this extremely volatile time. If a large-scale immigration reform bill is introduced, anti-immigrant forces will no doubt cry foul over what they will claim is an overly ambitious and broad bill. Their ire will be fueled by the current debate on health care. A larger bill is troublesome because it will give the antis an opportunity to pick out one aspect of the bill they don't like in order to derail the entire bill; with CIR, it's all or nothing.

I've always preferred piecemeal immigration legislation because it will require Congress to vote up or down on a singular issue. The Senate should take the lead by pushing for a vote on the DREAM Act.