Thread: US still land of opportunity for Irish illegal immigrants

US still land of opportunity for Irish illegal immigrants

Sunday December 26 2010

THE United States is still the land of opportunity for anyone struggling to pay the bills or find work in Ireland, according to Irish groups in New York and San Francisco.

The eastern and western cities, long established gateways for the Irish, have already seen a rise in the number of undocumented immigrants looking for work.

Ciaran Staunton, of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in New York and Celine Kennelly of the San Francisco Irish Immigration Pastoral Centre said most find work within days of arrival.

Ciaran added: "We've all heard the stories about the hardships of people living illegally out here and what it's like but the truth is, if you want to get away from all the problems in Ireland at the moment, and pay your mortgage or your credit card bill or whatever it is for a few years, it can be done out here.

"There are jobs for people here even if they come over illegally."

The Irish Pastoral Centre in San Francisco estimates there are more than 5,000 illegal Irish in the city and the number is growing every week. Before the Celtic Tiger the number was about 7,000.

Celine believes there will be a return to that level.

She added: "None of the illegals here are out of work. They are all earning money and doing ok for themselves. There are problems for people if they want to stay here long term because every time you go home, you might not be allowed back into the country. You're not allowed to get a driver's licence and that causes a lot of problems for people.

"But in the short term it is an alternative that people can consider."

The undocumented typically work in bars, restaurants and on building sites.

But many of the illegal Irish who travelled to the US and settled down only intended to stay for a short time.

Celine said: "Most people don't come here intending to settle down.

"They come over to get a job and make some money but then they meet someone and start a family or they get used to being here and it becomes their new home and it becomes harder to leave."

Celine cited one recent case of a woman who has made a new life for herself in San Francisco where she has a family, a home and a good job.

But when her grandmother in Ireland fell ill she had to choose whether to risk flying out to see her. If immigration refused to admit her back into the US she would have to uproot her young family, or live apart from them.

In the end the fear of not being allowed back into the US was too great. Her grandmother has since died.

The Irish in America also face a new danger. Members of the Republican Party, particularly those in the Tea Party, are trying to repeal one of the mainstays of the American constitution -- the automatic entitlement to citizenship of anyone born in the US.

Since 1868 the 14th amendment has allowed Irish parents secure for their children the rights they are denied.

Arizona senator John Kyl has joined the chorus of Republicans giving approval to altering the constitution.

He has called on Congress to discuss repealing the amendment, a move that would strike fear into the hearts of many Irish illegals.

However, some Republicans are reluctant to back such a proposal for fear of alienating Latino communities.

- in California

http://oneoldvet.com/

www.independent.ie

Originally Posted by jean

US still land of opportunity for Irish illegal immigrants

Since 1868 the 14th amendment has allowed Irish parents secure for their children the rights they are denied. Arizona senator John Kyl has joined the chorus of Republicans giving approval to altering the constitution. He has called on Congress to discuss repealing the amendment, a move that would strike fear into the hearts of many Irish illegals. However, some Republicans are reluctant to back such a proposal for fear of alienating Latino communities.

When Repubs realize that Mexican Americans are increasingly wary of illegals, they may take heart. And when Mexicans see that the government is finally willing to protect the rights of Americans, they may be less willing to voice their concerns - which are the same as those of all other Americans.

Mexicans, their children, and their grandchildren will be undercut by illegals, just as are all other Americans and their offspring. The quality of life in their neighborhoods will suffer from overcrowding, just as are other American neighborhoods. Etc., etc.
************************************************** **************************
Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

With Ireland collapsing in the Eurozone ... you are going to see a fresh new wave of what I am predicting to be millions that come and over stay their visa

you better start paying attention to the PIIGS America

Portugal
Ireland
Italy
Greece
Spain

you are going to see a collapse and a fresh wave of wanna be Illegals from all directions

The Irish illegals need to gather, packand get the hell out of the United States. It's time to go home to your country of citizenship and help the people of Ireland fix their country and hopefully lead the way to saving Europe.

Ireland wouldn't have anywhere near the financial problems if they stopped the idea of not wanting to tax corporations. Sure you draw in foreign business with little or no corporate tax but who wants to come when your country is falling into ruin?

Taxes are a needed part of any government and need to be balanced. They created their own issues and had a chance to fix them.

Of course the US is in the same boat in ways but we don't have a place to really run to as an illegal. We actually have to fix our problems which we can't do with millions of illegals.

Since 1868 the 14th amendment has allowed Irish parents secure for their children the rights they are denied.

Would that be the right to a free education and welfare benefits? Go home, we're broke.

Originally Posted by jean

THE United States is still the land of opportunity for anyone struggling to pay the bills or find work in Ireland, according to Irish groups in New York and San Francisco.

The eastern and western cities, long established gateways for the Irish, have already seen a rise in the number of undocumented immigrants looking for work.

WHEE IS ICE? these illegal criminals need to be give the same treatment as the illegal criminals from Mexico. Throw them ALL out. When is this country going to protect it's borders and stop this flow of illegal criminals who have total disregard for our laws?

Why the heck aren't these Irish illegals going some where closer, like England?????? Just goes to show that our government has been so stupid to give away endless freebies for so long that illegals will go to the ends of the earth to get here!!!!!!! And the sad thing is these illegals look just like us so it is hard to see that they are illegal right away!

And they have the nerve to be upset about the potential of the 14th amendment being thrown out???? Didn't Ireland outlaw birth right citizenship because they were tired of African illegals having their babies in Ireland so that the babies would be Irish citizens??????????

And they have the nerve to be upset about the potential of the 14th amendment being thrown out???? Didn't Ireland outlaw birth right citizenship because they were tired of African illegals having their babies in Ireland so that the babies would be Irish citizens??????????

Yes, and if memory serves me, Ireland was one of the last hold outs for anchor baby citizenship - but now the USA is the only country to still uphold this BS.

Hopefully that will be changing soon.