By Debbie McGoldrick

HOPES for immigration reform in 2007 have increased dramatically following the results of the 2006 midterm elections which showed Democrats making major gains throughout the U.S.

In addition, exit polls showed that despite a huge focus by Republicans on the immigration issue, the electorate was almost evenly divided on which party would handle the issue best.

The major stumbling block for the Senate’s Kennedy/McCain bill was in the House of Representatives, where the Republican leadership opposed a comprehensive immigration bill when it was sent down from the Senate.

House Speaker Denis Hastert instead demanded an enforcement only approach and insisted on a measure to build a 700 mile fence along the Mexican border.

However, with the house now trending Democratic, the chances for a new immigration bill coming from the Senate to the House and receiving consideration are considered much higher.

“Obviously we were bitterly disappointed when the Republican-led House refused to consider the comprehensive immigration reform package,” said Kelly Fincham, executive director of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR).

“We believe that the new Congress will be far more favorable to comprehensive immigration reform.”

Fincham stated that ILIR would be assessing the result and focusing on the new Congress shortly.

“We intend to do a lobby day as soon as the new Congress meets in January,” she stated. “In the meantime we will be holding a series of meetings to discuss strategy with our members from coast to coast.”

Republican second thoughts on the hardline illegal immigrant strategy were widespread. Fred Barnes, a leading Republican Party analyst, who is editor of the Weekly Standard, wrote in The Wall Street Journal on the day before the election that the Republican intense focus on the issue had been a major mistake.

Meanwhile, Senator John McCain reiterated that he would continue to push for immigration reform in the new Congress. McCain told CNN International that he was worried that Hispanic voters would reject the Republican party over the issue.

Senator Edward Kennedy, co-sponsor of the Kennedy/McCain immigration bill also promised ILIR members that he would make immigration a top priority in the new session of Congress. “I know this issue is of great importance to the Irish and we will act on it,” he stated at an Irish rally in Belmar, New Jersey for Senate candidate Bob Menendez last week attended by ILIR members.

Other commentators, including influential Newsweek columnist Fareed Zakaria, has urged President Bush to make a deal on immigration early in the new Congress, pointing out that the majority of senior Democratic and Republican senators want to see a deal done.

Most experts do not believe that an effort will be made in the lame duck session of Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill. However, when the new Congress is sworn in in January it is expected that immigration reform will once again become a major issue.

“We can expect the Hispanic lobby as well as us to become very active on this issue right away,” said Fincham.