There's been a lot of back and forth in the blogosphere and in the media over how cutting a political issue immigration is. Mickey Kaus seems to have focused on almost nothing but immigration lately, and the question of how it's impacting races. Jim Geraghty has looked at polling showing that for those who consider themselves "independent," border security ranks as the number one political issue. Arguing the other side, Ezra Klein says that the immigration issue didn't win any races for restrictionists this year -- and arguably lost at least one.

Whatever the significance of the issue, it seems highly unlikely that Congress will address it anytime soon. With comprehensive immigration reform apparently impossible this year, some moderate House Democrats have decided to work with Republicans on a border-security-only bill. While the group has a bill (which one anti-illegal immigration group summarizes here)and lots of support, it seems DOA with the House Hispanic Caucus:

North Carolina Democrat Heath Shuler ’s new immigration-enforcement bill, cheered by immigration hard-liners and jeered by Hispanic lawmakers, now faces a major roadblock: Rep. Loretta Sanchez , who chairs the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.

Sanchez says Shuler, a former pro football player, made a rookie mistake by not consulting with her before he introduced the bill, which is deepening an existing rift between politically vulnerable centrist Democrats and Hispanic members. Homeland Security is one of eight committees to which the bill was referred, but the panel has the lead in dealing with it.

“I would say Heath better come talk to me about it,” Sanchez, a California Democrat, told CQ Politics.

How grave is Shuler's offense? He's committed one of the greatest sins in the liberal playbook: acting like a Republican.

“It looked like he grabbed my STRIVE bill , took all the enforcement parts of it and forgot to turn the page. It’s a book he didn’t finish reading,” Gutierrez said. “We might as well put the Republicans in charge.”

This is just one item in a series that has heightened tension between Hispanic Democrats and others. Things are so bad that one Hispanic Democrat nearly got into a fight with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who thinks this could "destroy the party":

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus said Thursday night’s vote was their breaking point. They retaliated by initially voting against the rule allowing debate of the tax bill, very nearly sinking the measure and prompting a fiery exchange on the floor.

Hoyer was toe-to-toe with the much shorter Joe Baca , D-Calif., chairman of the Hispanic caucus. According to one Hispanic Democrat, Hoyer jabbed his finger at Baca and yelled, “How dare you destroy this party? This will be the worst loss in 10 years.”

Is there any sense in not considering some type of border security bill now? Right now the situation is optimal for proponents of comprehensive reform: they hold both Houses of Congress, and they have a Republican President who's lobbied his party to vote with them. Any Republican elected next year is less likely to support comprehensive reform. And if a Democrat is elected, Congressional Republicans are likely to dig in their heels in opposition.

Refusing to consider border security now however, guarantees that immigration will be a significant issue in 2008. And moderate Democrats in swing seats clearly don't believe that works to their favor.