Thread: Irish still among immigrants fighting to stay in the U.S.

Irish still among immigrants fighting to stay in the U.S.

By Dan Russo,
03/14/2007


With St. Patrick's Day coming up this weekend, many in Delaware County make an effort this time of year to celebrate their immigrant roots.

Meanwhile, today's immigrants from Ireland and other places living among us are fighting to be heard in the national immigration debate which has pitted a strong focus on enforcement of current laws, with a push for reform.

"I've been speaking to people it's been six, seven, eight years they haven't gone home to see their families," said Brendan Byrne, deputy mayor of Ireland's county Donegal when visiting Delaware County Saturday night.

He, Donegal Mayor Enda Bonner, and Irish Parliament Member of Parliament Pat Gallagher visited Delaware County's Irish community March 10 at the invitation of Upper Darby's Irish Immigration and Pastoral Center.

"If it were possible to legislate for the Irish alone, that would have been done, but legislation has to apply for all," Gallagher said to a crowd Saturday night. "Many young people, particularly when there's bereavements, they're going home regardless of the consequences."

About 1,000 Irish immigrants and their supporters from Pennsylvania took part in a demonstration in Washington D.C. Saturday hoping to raise awareness about the estimated 30,000 undocumented Irish living in America today.

The Irish Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit the White House later this week.

"When you talk about immigration in America, you automatically assume Hispanic or Mexican," said Declan Mannion. "There's an anti-immigrant feeling."

Mannion is among an older generation of Irish immigrants. Now a U.S. Citizen, he was able to come over as part of world-wide lottery system which has now been scaled back.
It now allows a total of about 55,000 visas for dozens of countries, according to Thomas Conaghan, director of Upper Darby's Irish Center.

Temporary professional visas, and other forms of legal entry for immigrants across the board have also been cut since the 1996 Immigration Act became law, having a drastic impact on immigrants, particularly recent ones.

"Our community is withering," said Conaghan - who is now a citizen - of the Irish in America today. "We don't want an open border. We want a legal path to immigration, particulary for undocumented people who have been here for a number of years, have families here, but are afraid to leave the country because they might not get back in."

Hispanic immigration
The recent event comes on the heals of large-scale Hispanic immigrant demonstrations in many American cities last year. Much like the large numbers of Irish who came to American during the 19th and early 20th centuries, immigrants from South and Central America are crossing into America for opportunity.

Hispanics are by far the largest group of immigrants in the country these days.

Juan and his brother Miguel, whose names have been changed, sat in a Delaware County bar recently with a group of other Hispanic immigrants.

Speaking in Spanish, the brothers, who do not have legal status, say they may go home to see their wives and children in Mexico once a year if they're lucky.

"It's difficult," said Miguel, the older of the two, in Spanish.

Tim O'Connell, a pastoral agent for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Office for Hispanic Catholics, says the numbers of Spanish speaking immigrants he works with is increasing.

On a typical Sunday, St. Alice in Upper Darby can see over a hundred people come to two Spanish masses. O'Connell says his work focuses on helping immigrants learn English and find necessary services.

"We have more and more Hispanics coming down from New York because the costs are so high in New York, said O'Connell. "One of the problems is when folks are coming in without documents. When everything is kept secret, there's more room for problems. Certainly the U.S. Catholic Bishops are advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. Not amnesty, but some path to citizenship. One of the problems with immigration policy is it separates families."

O'Connell said currently many Hispanics come north legally on nine-month agricultural visas to work seasonal jobs, but the program is not adequate.

"We need a guest worker program," said O'Connell. "Right now the system is not meeting the needs of immigrants or employers."

Political wrangling
The Kennedy-McCain Bill, an immigration reform package, went through heated debate last year in Congress before being defeated, Conaghan said.

Many recent proposals, such as one to upgrade a border fence or make immigrants felons were also stalled in Congress.

"Most of the measures deal with enforcement, but not with reform," said Conaghan.

Kelly, an Irish immigrant who came over on a 90 day visitors visa and stayed says a legal avenue to work would be good for the country.

"To send the money home, we only get a 50 percent exchange rate," said Kelly, who did not wish to give her last name. "All of our money goes back into the economy."

Unlike the Irish immigrants of past generations or the Hispanics of today, many Irish immigrants these days come as much for adventure and experience as for economic advantages.

Many immigrants hope a new immigration reform bill passes through Congress this year.

Whatever happens, for many, the centuries old connection between the Emerald Isle and the U.S. is changing, but still surviving.

"If you're looking for the quaint Ireland of the past, it's no longer as quaint as it once was," said Byrne of today's Ireland. "We are a modern, robust economy, but there still is a uniqueness there. And we don't forget our roots."


http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 5529&rfi=6

"When you talk about immigration in America, you automatically assume Hispanic or Mexican," said Declan Mannion. "There's an anti-immigrant feeling."

Actually, that's what you like to think Mannion. You want all immigrants to be the victims so it will legitimize your pro-illegal aliens position. Don't better your cause on the backs of ligitimate immigrants.

Wrong doers can't be victims.

Quit bluring the line! Throw them all out with enforcement and drive them out with attrition.

Spare me.

If your illegal, you do not belong here!

What is this idiot talking about if it could be done for the irish alone? Illegal alien is illegal alien, many irish get into this country by overstaying their visas which is also against the law. They only come here to send money home till they can go back and live there again just like any other illegal alien. They take what they can get and leave. Go into any irish bar in Boston and you will find illegal alien irish but the ICE is not bright enough to figure that out yet

Kelly, an Irish immigrant who came over on a 90 day visitors visa and stayed says a legal avenue to work would be good for the country.

We need to stop giving these visas out like candy! Furthermore, we must implement a procedure for ensuring that all visa holders depart the country prior to visa expiration! If they don't leave, it'll be the responsibility of ICE to track them down and deport them with extreme prejudice!

This is the 21st century and the technology does exist, but does the will? Well, it certainly hasn't up to this point.