Call it, if you will, bowing to reality.

President Obama acknowledged this week what probably already was evident - immigration reform will have to wait at least until next year. There's just too much on the policy plate to tackle that naggingly difficult issue this year.

It is, for this ambitious and multi-tasking president, an unmistakable retreat. Throughout last year's presidential campaign, Obama had conveyed a sense of urgency about addressing this country's admittedly tattered and controversial policies -- or non-policy, some would argue -- on immigration. In July 2008, as Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Nicholas recalled in a story published in this newspaper on Tuesday, Obama said it would be "a top priority in my first year as president."

But one can have only so many top priorities. With the economy elbowing its recession-wrapped presence onto the top of every agenda in Washington, room for other priorities dwindled.

In some ways, the recession has dialed down our national concern over immigration. As jobs have vanished -- and more aggressive enforcement efforts have taken hold -- not only has immigration slowed, many immigrants have returned to their home countries.

On the other hand, that very shrinkage of employment opportunities has heightened anxiety, often rising to anger, over undocumented immigrants taking jobs from U. S. citizens.

There's no question that immigration reform is vital and overdue. We believe the ultimate solution should follow the rough contours President Obama laid out again on Monday: "We can create a system in which you have strong border security and an orderly process for people to come in," he said. "But we're also giving an opportunity for those who are already in the United States to be able to achieve a pathway to citizenship...."

Those are sensible goals. If we must wait until next year to move toward them - we wish that weren't so, but concede the reality.