It may not be the most promising news for some to hear on Earth Day, but certainly a good sign to many frustrated advocates of immigration reform: Democratic party leaders have vowed this week to move on immigration reform in 2010. Roll Call reported that Senators Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi agreed in a meeting this week that there’s a "moral imperative" to move on immigration reform this year. After a week of open criticism from Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who threatened to sit out November’s midterm elections of talks on immigration reform continued to stall, there’s clearly a practical political imperative, too. Nadeam Elshami, a spokesperson for Pelosi, said of the decision:

“The Speaker supports bipartisan immigration reform that secures our borders and keeps our nation safe, protects our workers and our economy, unites families, and provides a pathway to legalization, and the House awaits Senate action."

While Dem’s face an uphill battle in trying to drum up bipartisan support for any proposed legislation, some are worried that a move now will be too risky. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) — who’s facing his own smears from the Tea Party — said on Wednesday, “If you do it and you fail, who will be the next group to take it up? … You could go a generation without taking it up because you get the hell beat out of you.”