Obamacare May Pose the Biggest Hurdle to Immigration Reform

Big, new costs associated with legalizing 11 million people

President Obama's biggest first-term success may present an obstacle on the path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants, one of his highest second-term ambitions.

ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion and new subsidies to buy health insurance are among a number of factors that may raise a hurdle to immigration reform in 2013: the budgetary cost.

Now, amid signs that the political climate is more favorable for immigration reform, the economic and fiscal backdrop presents new challenges.