50,000 illegal Irish in US
Support for 50,000 Irish illegals in US
CATHOLIC Church representatives and a group of Fine Gael politicians are in Washington this week to lobby on behalf of an estimated 50,000 Irish people living illegally in the US.
Both groups are hoping to lobby for administrative changes that would make it easier for undocumented Irish to secure legal status to remain in the US.
Chairman of the Commission for Emigrants, Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty, and its director Fr Alan Hilliard, are in Washington as part of the Irish Bishops’ 2005 Supporting Irish Abroad campaign.
“Fr Hilliard and I are travelling to the US to discuss with my colleagues in the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference how best the Irish and US bishops can work together to alleviate the plight of our most vulnerable migrants,” said Dr Hegarty.
Fine Gael TD Michael Ring is also in Washington, along with fellow TDs Paul Connaughton, the party’s spokesman on emigrant affairs, Dinny McGinley and MEP Simon Coveney.
Mr Ring said: “In many cases these are people who have been resident here for years and who are married with families and contributing to the US economy.
“The illegal status has caused much emotional pain because they have been afraid to return to this country for family events.”
While in the US the Irish delegation - who stressed they were there at their own expense - hope to meet government officials and members of the Irish American community in both New York and Washington.
In a month’s time, the immigration legislation is expected to go before US Congress, brought by senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy, which would subject illegal immigrants to fines, but allow them to remain in the US and earn a chance to apply for permanent residency.
Olivia Kelleher
and Tom Shiel
