There are signs that some rough sort of compromise is emerging on Capitol Hill over the immigration issue. Whether there is enough will to push it through is another question.

If it does get over the line, one part seems likely to be a computerized verification system for green cards and Social Security numbers, reports the New York Times. The system would be created by the Department of Homeland Security.

People working in the department, though, emailed senators to say they didn't think the system could be made workable. At the moment, most employers go through the ritual of collecting paper from immigrants and that suffices as a verification procedure. But paper is so easy to fake that both sides know they are merely going through the motions.

The proposed computer searches are supposed to work like background checks for handgun purchases but every job applicant will need to be verified. This seems like an open invitation to manufacture fake Social Security or green card numbers that will fool the system.

Other problems include false negatives, which would require government compensation for fired workers and Texas Sen. John Cornyn is worried about people whose status cannot be ascertained. At most, the department would have 30 days to say yes or no. If it or its computers could not decide, then the worker would be legal. The restrictionists will undoubtedly see this as another example of the "A" word they hate so much.

And if all else fails, there's always the pay-in-cash, off-the-books kind of employment. And the odds of getting caught doing that are probably going to stay pretty slim. It could all be part of a compromise but not one that will resolve the issue to anyone's satisfaction.