"I'm sure that like in 1986, some ineffectual, feel-good immigration bill will be passed that will not even be enforced."
Your sadly correct, reason being is that the elites (on both sides of the political fence) don't care what the masses think. There are two kinds of governments in the world: The first kind, fortunately there aren't as many as there used to be, oppress their people. This is a fool's errand, and such governments fail sooner or later. The SECOND kind is smarter; this kind of government does not oppress its people, it merely IGNORES them, and largely does the bidding of elites and certain interest groups. This is what we have in the USA today--a representative republic that doesn't represent. You see it in illegal immigration policy, outsourcing, health insurance, even the war in Iraq. There is a cartoon "happy bunny" popular with young people who says insensitive things for a laugh. One of his catchphrases is "I know how you feel, I just don't care." This is the attitude of the US government (all 3 branches) and the American elite toward the population at large.
I meant "you're" not "your". sorry.