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Forget about that pathway to citizenship.

The Republican divide on whether undocumented immigrants can become citizens is consuming most of the headlines. But theres a trickier issue at play that ultimately could prove to be a bigger stumbling block for immigration reform: a guest-worker program for future immigrants.

Last March, the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reached a delicately crafted deal on the number of low-skilled workers such as hospitality employees who can legally come into the country. That deal is a major reason why the Senate reform bill was able to pass in June.

(Also on POLITICO: Mitch McConnell: Immigration irresolvable in 2014)

But House Republicans have not yet resolved this thorny problem the GOP principles released last week only broadly touch the issue and Republicans are split over whether to raise or reduce the number of guest workers coming into the country, according to several top sources close to the issue.

Meanwhile, Democrats will be reluctant to depart from the high-stakes agreement struck between labor and business.

There are serious divisions because there are some people who, frankly, just dont want a lot of folks coming from the outside, said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) on Wednesday. Pointing to the current jobless rate, he added: They have some very legitimate arguments.

If a House solution veers too far from the Senate deal on guest workers, key officials believe the entire reform effort could collapse. Thats because it risks losing support from the pivotal constituencies who helped pass comprehensive immigration reform last year.

One person close to the Senate negotiations said one of the key reasons for the success of the Senate bill is because of very carefully crafted compromises on the guest-worker programs. These pacts formed a marked change from the previous failed effort at comprehensive immigration reform in 2007, the person noted.

(Also on POLITICO: Chuck Schumer, Paul Ryan talking on immigration)

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Immigration reform's other hurdle