An explosive political story broke this week and went nowhere. The Obama administration, prepping for its promised announcement of executive action on immigration by the end of the year, has ordered enough green cards for 4 million annually and up to 34 million to be sent to the Department of Homeland Security. That would be the department that oversees immigration and, yes, issues green cards.

{mosads}Taxpayers footing the bill for a new, unknown policy that will be made without consent of Congress? What a gift for Republicans, making closing arguments against the unpopular president and his party in their campaigns for elections less than two weeks away. Not really, since the GOP is so divided on this issue that it can’t talk about it.

Though they have buried their differences for now, hoping to stay silent on any divisive issues until after the election, the GOP establishment and the conservative base of the party still remain far apart on the question of whether some kind of immigration reform is critical the party’s chances of winning the White House in 2016. The establishment thinks so. In Colorado, the Chamber of Commerce is running ads in Spanish in support of the Republican Senate nominee, Rep. Cory Gardner, who isn’t talking about Obama’s upcoming immigration announcement. Sure, once it comes, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) and others will call it “unconstitutional amnesty” and call for impeachment, but that will all happen after the election and for now Republicans don’t want to rock the boat.

Conservatives notice all of this, but there doesn’t seem to be enough time for them to push the debate before voters go to the polls. Take, for example, this tweet from Laura Ingraham yesterday: “9 million new ‘green cards’ ordered by Obama admin but where is GOP Leadership on this?? Afraid to stand for sovereignty bc of Jeb?”

The GOP-immigration battle continues. Tune in on Nov. 5.

IS ROMNEY THE BEST HOPE FOR REPUBLICANS IN 2016 — AGAIN? AskAB returns Wednesday, Oct. 29. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@thehill.com. Thank you.