Thread: New Administration Brings Hope to Irish Illegal Aliens in US

New administration may bring hope to undocumented Irish in the US
Sunday, 28 December 2008

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in the United States said it is hopeful the change of US President next month will be good news for the undocumented from this country.

Democratic President-elect Barack Obama will succeed Republican President George W. Bush on January 20th.

There are growing expectations that the new US administration will be more sympathetic to the undocumented Irish.

It is believed there are approximately 40,000 undocumented Irish living in the United States.

Ciaran Staunton from Westport who is involved with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform said 'we need a proactive Taoiseeach and the Irish-American community in the US needs a strong partner in the Irish Government when we are dealing with people in Capitol Hill.'

He also said that things are looking better this year for the Irish undocumented in the US than last year.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/break ... 21827.html

He also said that things are looking better this year for the Irish undocumented in the US than last year.

Oh Really! We are in a Depression, awaiting Martial Law and FEMA Camps, no jobs, no food, no money, no house ...... BUT, the illegal Irish will have a better year under Kenyan Obama???

Good Luck!

Part of this damage came in under my radar and is a done deal. This is not good boys and girls and MUST BE STOPPED. The 4 to 1 ratio is unacceptable.

Thursday 16th October 2008

New 20,000 US one-year work and travel visas welcome, but undocumented Irish still not addressed - Barrett


Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael TD Seán Barrett has warmly welcomed the new one-year work exchange agreement securing at least 20,000 visas for young Irish people to legally reside and work in the United States for a period of one year. However, the continuing plight of the 50,000 undocumented Irish living in the US must not be lost sight of, Deputy Barrett stressed.

"The new visa programme which starts shortly will operate for an initial period of five years. It is exclusive to Irish nationals in third-level education or who have recently graduated. According to US Ambassador Thomas Foley, job offers will not be compulsory for Irish people to avail of this unique opportunity to gain work experience in the US and travel in the country.

"Ireland is not the first country to have been selected to participate in this US visa programme, which also includes a reciprocal element, similarly allowing 5,000 US citizens to reside and work in Ireland for a period of one year. Australia has also achieved an E3 visa programme with the US government, which is an extension of the Irish scheme.

"The Australian E3 visa scheme allows Australia to send 10,500 people, as well as their spouses, to the US on renewable two-year work visas which can be extended indefinitely. The United States operate similar visa programmes with Chile and Singapore.

"The issue of seeking a pathway to legal status for the undocumented Irish in the US has been temporarily parked for the duration of the current US Presidential election campaign. Under current immigration legislation the estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish have suffered very considerable legal and bureaucratic difficulties and hardship in such areas as obtaining health insurance, driving licences and opening bank accounts. Nevertheless, as hardworking taxpayers they have made a significant contribution to the social and economic life of the United States, and have merited the opportunity to regularise their status.

"A new incoming US administration in January, will, I hope, signal a new direction in US immigration reform with particular relevance for the undocumented Irish. I would urge the Irish Government to redouble its efforts to conclude a bilateral visa agreement with the incoming US authorities for our undocumented."

http://www.finegael.ie/news/index.cfm/t ... nkey/35595