A piece-by-piece approach is favored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), whose committee is the point of origin in the House for any immigration bill. Goodlatte is expected to begin moving isolated pieces of legislation in the coming days.

Boehner wants to defer to Goodlatte, a source familiar with Boehner’s thinking said, largely out of respect for the widely felt animus among House Republicans against any attempt to pass a “comprehensive” immigration bill.

“Big comprehensive bills have become a challenge in this environment,” said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck confirmed that the speaker wants to allow Goodlatte to drive the process, but cautioned that “no decisions have been made” as to how to proceed.