Is immigration reform dead?

Democrats’ growing concern about losing control of the Senate this fall and the fear of a potential debacle in 2016 is now increasing doubts about whether any immigration reform bill can be passed during President Obama’s final two years in office.

Not only are Democrats pressing Obama to hold off indefinitely on unilaterally making immigration changes — not just until after the election — they are also saying he shouldn’t use executive authority to ease deportations at any time.

SEE ALSO: What Obama’s delay on executive action means for immigrant families

Perhaps, more importantly, Republicans appear to be turning away from comprehensive immigration reform, and even Democrats and independents appear less enthusiastic than at any time during the Obama presidency.

The cruelest cut, though, may have come from House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, who defended Obama’s recent decision holding off executive action?even as he acknowledged the disappointment that came with the delay.

That disillusionment among immigration reform advocates was underscored by the arrest of Dreamers outside Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office this week.

How soon is soon for immigration reform?

“The difficult side of that for many of us is that that won’t happen soon enough because we’re going to wait a couple more months,” Becerra said.

But that may be optimistic, considering the opposition lining up against Obama’s possible use of executive action on a major issue that many – including Democrats in Congress – believe should be something done through congressional legislation.

For it would appear that a certain amount of desperation has taken over the immigration reform movement, and how could it not?

President Obama’s record low unpopularity is clear to Democrats, especially those running for reelection this year who also recognize the warning from other vital political signs: A stagnant economic recovery, another costly war to be waged, mounting internal division over the tens of thousands of Central American immigrant children who have stormed into the country this year.

Just this week, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll reported that 35 percent of Americans believe the GOP would do a better job handling immigration, compared with 27 percent who supported what Democrats are doing.

Only last December, 31 percent of the public had more faith in Democrats on immigration reform while only 26 percent favored the Republicans.

With the 2016 presidential campaign effectively kicking off the day after this November election, how much chance is there — given these pressures — that the country’s political climate will have improved from what it is today for whoever lands the Democratic nomination?