Eight years ago, the similarities between the Republican and Democratic platforms on the issue of immigration reform were striking.  The 2012 immigration planks for both parties are equally striking, but for the opposite reason.  Where 2004 demonstrated a unified vision of a broken system requiring reform, 2012 represents a virtual breakdown in agreement at least in official party documents, on how to go forward on immigration.  Comparing the evolution of the platforms from 2004 to 2008 to 2012 offers some insight into what has gone wrong in the immigration policy debate, and demonstrates why both sides need to come up with new, creative solutions to the continuing immigration policy crisis.