Despite the focus on the economic crisis, there is a growing body of opinion suggesting that President Obama will push forward an aggressive Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) package in the coming months.

While there is sure to be considerable opposition and passage of major immigration legislation is far from certain, proponents suggest that a sound economic argument can be made in favor of action.

The primary component of any such CIR under discussion would be some form of “pathway to citizenship” or legal status for many of the 10 to 12 million aliens thought to be living illegally in the U.S.

Few details are being openly discussed but there is apparently considerable activity behind the scenes in the Administration and Congress.

Since this is likely to be discussed more widely in the coming weeks and months we think a note of caution is in order for those individuals who might be eagerly awaiting an opportunity to legalize themselves and their families.

When we practiced throughout the 1986 Amnesty Legislation we observed firsthand the cottage industry that surfaced overnight in the local ethnic communities. Storefronts opened up staffed by untrained nonlawyers, notaries, travel agents, tax preparers and others all anxious to make a quick buck offering assistance to individuals applying for legalization. While some of these individuals were no doubt well-meaning, none had the proper legal training or expertise to properly deal with a complex immigration program offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for legal status.

A second phenomenon which we expect to see if the legislation is advanced is the specter of attorneys advertising heavily to sign up clients before anything is final and details are still undetermined. Before the 1986 Act was signed into law, we saw advertisements suggesting that individuals should hire and retain attorneys in advance of any legislation lest they be unable to find one able to take on new clients once the law was made public.

We would make the following suggestions to anyone who is hoping to benefit for a chance to gain legal status: