Nearly all of the grass-roots-led organizations that shape the immigration debate on the left now see the White House — and the potential for Obama to act on his own — as the most likely avenue for progress on the issue, given the GOP’s control of the House and election-year jitters.

With White House officials keenly sensitive to any progressive criticism of its deportation policy, that shift had sparked a rift within the small world of immigration activists, most of whom have worked together for years. …

The Center for American Progress and National Council of La Raza are the only groups within the progressive immigration world that aren’t demanding Obama put a stop to deportations himself — with officials from other grassroots groups saying both organizations may be too close to the White House to be objective.

“There is no doubt that some groups have at times seen administrative advocacy as being in tension with the legislative campaign, an idea we strongly reject,” said Chris Newman, the legal director of the Los Angeles-based National Day Laborer Organizing Network. “We all have our different roles to play, but there is a perception outside of the Washington Beltway that some organizations with access have become apologists for the administration.”