Remember that I was arguing for the sake of self-interest there, not based on my actual political views. I am not an undocumented alien, nor did I cross over illegally (at a young age or otherwise), or make an asylum claim, or any of the other popular-to-fight-over categories. I'm one of the "model" ones. Bipartisan efforts, if any, should vector out towards attracting and retaining people like me (net contributors tax-wise, young, educated, English-speaking), I'd think.I disagree. The Democrats have largely wanted an improved path to citizenship, because currently it's difficult for an undocumented immigrant to become a citizen, trapping them in a legal underclass. An example of this would be the Dreamer Act. The corporations that largely back the Republicans, however, want to keep undocumented immigrants as a permanent underclass because they can be underpaid and abused since they don't have legal protection and can't go to the authorities without fear of being deported.
So the reason there isn't a bipartisan solution to immigration is because the two sides have very different goals for the issue.
Agreed, the work visa system is a mess all-around with all kinds of perverse incentives.Republicans are also a big fan of the current H-1B visa, because it lets them import cheap technical experts from places like India but still keep the threat of deportation on the table. H-1B's need a reform; not just in how they are applied (Businesses usually CAN fill these jobs with locals but don't want to pay 10k+ more for someone who can leave) but in how the actual rights of workers to whom they apply.