2013 was a frustrating year for immigration reform advocates. In June, the Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill, but it stalled in the House. Reports also surfaced of more deportations under the Obama administration than under any other president. 

Although such developments are discouraging, there are some reasons why comprehensive immigration reform has a good chance of passing in the House in 2014. 

One sign of progress is the recent budget deal passed by Congress, which shows a break in the Washington gridlock. The bipartisan effort gives some hope that immigration reform could eventually pass, with much compromise. 

House Speaker John Bohener has also been pushing against conservative interest groups, saying, "They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous," according to USA Today. Earlier in December, he also hired a top aide to work on immigration issues. So although Boehner has pushed back against reform in the past, he may be willing to come to the table to work out a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2014. 

Jeh Johnson, who was recently confirmed as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has also shown support for immigration reform. 

"I do not believe that deportation quotas or numeric goals are a good idea," he wrote in a letter to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. He also defended the Senate immigration bill and spoke about the importance of transparency when it comes to immigration policy. 

Grass-roots activism in support of immigration reform is also spurring the push for a comprehensive reform bill. Marches and prayer vigils have occurred nationwide, as well as a fast at the National Mall. Human chains have even been formed to block buses deporting undocumented immigrants, while other activists have shut down congressional offices with sit-ins in attempts to persuade congresspeople to support a comprehensive reform bill. 

Majorities of Americans also continue to support an immigration reform bill that provides a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. 

Bob Dane of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that opposes "amnesty," says that "the ground is very fertile" for the bill's passage.  

While passing the bill will not be an easy feat in the coming year, such positive signs indicate it could eventually come to fruition in 2014.