Three leading Democrats – the Majority Leader, the former head of the DSCC and the current head – have begun to write an immigration bill that they could bring up for debate in the summer, after financial reform and possibly a climate and energy bill are completed.

Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer and Bob Menendez would probably welcome a Republican co-sponsor, and are in fact responding to concerns from Republicans by foregrounding border security. Under the bill, certain border security benchmarks would have to be met before the more comprehensive reforms – like a path to citizenship – kick in. The bill includes strict workplace enforcement as well.

Bloomberg reports that the biometric ID card, discussed as part of the aborted Schumer-Graham effort, has made a comeback:

The legislation would also require the Social Security Administration to administer a new system of biometric cards that could be used to prevent hiring of illegal immigrants in U.S. workplaces. It would replace existing verification systems six years after enactment.

The draft legislation would boost civil penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants by 300 percent.

The measure would create a new federal commission that would adjust caps for work visas for skilled and other workers based on whether too few, or too many, immigrants are arriving to meet the needs of the U.S. economy.

The proposal also changes the high-skilled immigration system, allowing employment by foreign students with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions in certain fields, such as engineering and technology.

The proposal attempts to provide a way for the estimated 10.8 million people in the U.S. with no legal status to become citizens. First they could be provided with a “lawful immigrant status” that lets them to work and travel outside the U.S. Later, eight years after current visa backlogs are cleared, they could petition to become permanent U.S. citizens, under the proposal.

Experts can weigh in on this better than I, but at first glance the ID card seems like a nonstarter. Other than that, the contours of this deal mirror the 2007 agreement that failed in the Senate, albeit with some tougher measures on the border. Many of the Republicans who voted for that bill in 2007 either aren’t around anymore or no longer support a comprehensive bill. So this could be a quixotic fight. But sometimes, you fight the battles worth fighting.

Apparently unaware of such a strategy, the President threw cold water on the whole idea yesterday:

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – President Barack Obama said Wednesday that there “may not be an appetite” in Congress to deal with immigration immediately after going through a tough legislative year.

With energy legislation on the table and midterm elections approaching, Obama said he didn’t want to force an immigration bill through Congress “just for the sake of politics.” Still, he said discussions on the issue must move forward in a way that can garner the support of the American people.

“We’ve gone though a very tough year and I’ve been working Congress very hard, so I know there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One returning with him to Washington from a Midwest trip.

That’s just an absurd position to take. Congress’ hard work pales in comparison to the hard work done every day by people forced into the shadows and exploited by their employers because they hold no legal rights. The outlines of a solution are clear and shouldn’t be abandoned because Congress doesn’t want to do any more heavy lifting.