During the State of the Union address last week, Pres. Bush’s mention of immigration came largely in the context of border security and illegal entry, his remarks segueing directly into warnings against the threat of terrorism

That’s certainly one way to look at the politics of immigration in this country, as a question of illegals, domestic security, terror. And much of the Election ’08 campaign that this year’s News21 incubator project will report on has focused on those issues as well – with scrutiny of stands for or against border fencing, or for or against citizenship to illegal immigrants.

But there’s another way to look at the question of immigrants in this country – not so much the politics of immigration as the arena of immigrant politics.

That is, are the nation’s 38 million-plus immigrants creating a vast demographic shift just below the radar, a shift that could be reshaping American politics on the local, regional or even national level?

That’s one question before the News21 Columbia team for this year’s Election ’08 – What’s At Stake project. We realize that in an election year when war, the economy, health care, climate change and other issues are on the minds of many voters – and when immigration is largely a political football in the maneuvering over anti-terror policies – the lives of legal immigrants and their issues and struggles for recognition and power won’t like garner the same level of attention.

But perhaps that’s why it’s so important to cover this story – one of a slow-moving, but transformative nature. Is it, as legendary newsman Gene Roberts, would say, a story that oozes rather than breaks?

What do you think? Should the Columbia Election ’08 project on immigration focus on the ways in which immigrant politics are helping change the face of America? Or on the ways in which the politics of immigration are fueling domestic security and terror concerns? Share your comments and questions below.