[Excerpt] Discussions of the impact of immigration policy on the population and labor force of the United States typically center on why the nation has such a policy (i.e., the national interests that are involved) and what are the specific policy elements that are used to accomplish those ends. Far less attention is given to the process issues as to who administers those policies and how is the policy actually implemented and enforced. But answers to the who and the how questions are of equal importance when it comes to understanding policy outcomes. This is because the administrative processes provide the means to the ends. They determine the way in which policy priorities are established and they provide the mechanisms by which resources (both dollars and manpower) are assigned to accomplish policy objectives. No matter what the national interests sought or what are the laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines enacted to achieve them, the degree to which they are accomplished depends largely on the importance assigned to the issue and the material support devoted to reaching those ends.