[finnbow]

As long as the Democrats want immigration reform for cheap votes and Republicans (more specifically, industry) want it for cheap and compliant labor, it's all talk anyway. Democrats benefit electorally from Republican intransigence, so much of their talk in favor of immigration reform is just that - talk.

As for a path to citizenship, the path has been made so arduous that it's more of an Outward Bound obstacle course. Those willing/able to go through these hoops are probably more deserving of citizenship than the xenophobic 'Baggers trying to stop it from occurring (while living in states that suck disproportionately from the Federal tit).

As for a "legal status" short of citizenship, it is a decidedly bad idea. The Germans did it with the Gastarbeiters (guest workers, mostly Turkish) and it brings with it a mechanism for continued exploitation. In short, it solves employers's desires for cheap and compliant labor (what the GOP wants), while treating the immigrants unfairly (not to mention not giving Democrats the votes they want). It's a non-starter.