Thread: Immigration debate, with an Irish spin

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Immigration debate, with an Irish spin
By SUSAN FERRISS
February 25, 2007


In a cozy room above a Russian market and a Shanghai-style restaurant, an Irish nanny gently rocked an American baby.
When the nanny reveals that she hails from the Emerald Isle, she said, American citizens are usually warm and welcoming and many speak proudly of their own Irish heritage.

They don't suspect her secret. They'd never imagine that the San Francisco nanny feels a special bond with millions of others, most from Latin America or Asia, who are illegal immigrants - just as she is.

"The Irish are a bit luckier. We speak English, and we tend to get the better jobs," said the $17-an-hour, full-time nanny. She requested anonymity because she feared she and her 8-year-old son could be located and deported.

Next month, in what some call a critical turning point for their cause, the nanny and more than 150 other undocumented Irish and supporters from California will travel to Washington to join a rally on March 7 outside Congress.

Donning "Legalize the Irish" T-shirts, they are expected to join thousands to lobby Congress for an increase in work-based immigrant visas and enactment of a program for undocumented workers to earn legal status. They have powerful allies on Capitol Hill, and they hope to woo more.

Once more numerous, undocumented Irish immigrants are today estimated at about 50,000 nationwide, a number that pales in comparison to Latin Americans, Chinese or Indians, but could be matched, for instance, by undocumented Polish immigrants.

A decline in Irish immigration in recent years is attributed to Ireland's unprecedented economic boom, the so-called "Celtic Tiger." The European Union has invested billions in grants to develop infrastructure, and the Irish embrace of the high-tech industry is fueling economic growth.

But some Irish arrived in America on tourist visas before the emergence of the Celtic Tiger, staying because they found plenty of work here. Also flocking to the United States are those from less-prosperous Northern Ireland.

As did generations of Irish before them, today's immigrants view the United States as an exceptional land of opportunity. But they've found that there is almost no way to immigrate legally today other than by marrying a U.S. citizen or a legal resident or winning a space in a visa lottery.

In 2005, out of a total of more than 1.1 million people who were granted legal residency, only 2,088 were Irish. Most were married to U.S. citizens or legal residents.

In a separate lottery competition that reserves 50,000 slots a year for people from around the world, only 160 slots were won by Irish in 2006. In San Francisco, more than 450 Irish vied for the lottery and lost, including the two nannies interviewed by the Sacramento Bee.

Because of a dearth of paths to immigrate legally, the Irish have joined a coalition with Latinos, Asians, employers, unions and churches to lobby for more visas to fill job shortages.

More than 34 million Americans trace their ancestry to Ireland, a cultural bond the Irish believe can strengthen their case before the American public.

"Anybody with their faculties can see there are thousands of jobs to fill," said Niall O'Dowd, the New York-based chairman of the nationwide Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. Irish have found jobs in households, construction, the hospitality industry and in professional fields.

O'Dowd responded to the argument that illegal immigrants shouldn't be rewarded for illegal behavior. "We're not advocating illegal immigration. We're advocating legal immigration," O'Dowd said. "A lot of hatred has been spewed by the right. This is an issue affecting a lot of ethnic groups. This is about access to America."

Once subjected to intense discrimination themselves, the Irish can identify with other illegal immigrant groups who are offered work here but scorned as being too different to fit in, said Kelly Fincham, executive director of the Irish immigrant lobbying group.



(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)

Copyright 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Copyright 2007, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.

O'Dowd responded to the argument that illegal immigrants shouldn't be rewarded for illegal behavior. "We're not advocating illegal immigration. We're advocating legal immigration," O'Dowd said. "A lot of hatred has been spewed by the right. This is an issue affecting a lot of ethnic groups. This is about access to America."

Why do many of the illegals think they have a right to access to the US on a permanent basis? They are so arrogant and obnoxious it drives me crazy!

I would deport her Irish rear-end right back to the "Emerald Isle". I'm an equal opportunity deporter. I am so sick of illegals "entitlement" mindset!

Me too, especially when those other countries have such strict immigration laws which they enforce quite diligently. I believe Ireland has even ended birthright citizenship.

Somebody call the Paddy Wagon

Once subjected to intense discrimination themselves, the Irish can identify with other illegal immigrant groups who are offered work here but scorned as being too different to fit in, said Kelly Fincham, executive director of the Irish immigrant lobbying group.

Yep..........tie in with the idiots

That'll get you plenty of leverage.

Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh




Neils
9:45 pm
02/26/2007

I agree, legalize the Irish - fly them back to Ireland!

O'Dowd responded to the argument that illegal immigrants shouldn't be rewarded for illegal behavior. "We're not advocating illegal immigration. We're advocating legal immigration," O'Dowd said. "A lot of hatred has been spewed by the right. This is an issue affecting a lot of ethnic groups. This is about access to America."

Once subjected to intense discrimination themselves, the Irish can identify with other illegal immigrant groups who are offered work here but scorned as being too different to fit in, said Kelly Fincham, executive director of the Irish immigrant lobbying group.

O'Dowd is a lying sack. Aliens that invade need to be shipped out of here. You are advocating legalizing criminals. No one is fooled. What exactly gives a right to access America? You guys cut back on your socialist goodies and now you want to dump your excess on us. Grandma never said anything about going anywhere by slithering in uninvited. Only Irish criminals can identify with illegal alien invaders.

This is an issue affecting a lot of ethnic groups. This is about access to America."

Yeah, let's just let everyone in. Heck, than we can all self-deport to the vacant country of our choosing.

Where do these folks get off thinking they're entitled to unlimited access to America?

MW,

I hear Ireland is an excellent place to retire! And then, Mexico in the winter...Gees what are we whining about?