The head of the Irish group lobbying for immigration reform in the US has criticised the Department of Foreign Affairs for its lack of support and said he feels “isolated” because of the inaction of the Government.

As immigration reform meanders through Washington DC, activist Ciarán Staunton spoke to John Riordan

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore yesterday expressed hope that the momentum pushing the US towards immigration legislation would benefit the 50,000 Irish living in what he described as a “twilight zone”.

A Bill concerning illegal immigrants in the US may see the light of day as Barack Obama begins his second term.

Sportswear giant Nike has apologised after issuing a St Patrick’s Day-themed training shoe named the “Black and Tan”.

TWO Republican senators introduced another new bill aimed at assisting Irish people who wish to acquire US working visas in Washington DC yesterday.

A US SENATOR will introduce an immigration bill in Washington DC today which would allow up to 10,000 Irish a year to live in America on work visas — but not green cards.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin will hold high-level meetings on the undocumented Irish in Washington DC today.

A new website which aims to harness the power of the Irish diaspora has been launched in the US.

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.

ANNIE MOORE has achieved a significance in death that she would never have imagined possible in her lifetime. She was the first immigrant through America’s Ellis Island and her grave in New York was marked this weekend, 84 years after her death.

The Government today announced €1m in grants for Irish immigration organisations in the US.

The Government today allocated €34,000 in funding towards the fight for immigration reform for Irish illegals in the US.

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in the US says it believes Brian Cowen is more genuine in his commitment to helping illegal Irish immigrants than his predecessor Bertie Ahern was.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has admitted there is little chance of a deal for the illegal Irish in the US this year, but stressed the issue will remain a priority for his government.

The Irish American newspaper 'Irish Voice' endorsed Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton today, saying no other candidate matches her “sterling record” on Irish issues.

IRISH star of cinema and TV Fionnula Flanagan has pulled out of this year’s US-Ireland Alliance pre-Oscar awards in a row over the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US.

A tearful Irish emigrant in the US had to listen to his father’s funeral Mass on a mobile phone because he was unable to travel home to attend it, it was claimed today.

The US Senate yesterday voted to revive a stalled immigration overhaul backed by President George W Bush that would offer a path to citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

The Government today pledged to fight for the rights of undocumented Irish in the United States after the rejection of a major new immigration bill.

A public meeting is taking place in Dublin for families and friends of undocumented Irish emigrants now living the United States.

Friends and relatives of the illegal Irish in the US are gathering in Dublin today for a public information meeting.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday welcomed a new bill to radically reform strict US immigration laws giving hope to 50,000 illegal Irish.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will meet with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and visit the Twin Towers memorial site with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will present the traditional bowl of shamrock to US president George Bush in the White House on Friday.

Up to 3,000 people are expected to attend a rally in Washington today calling for legal moves to regularise the situation of illegal Irish immigrants in the United States.

UP TO 50,000 Irish illegal immigrants are choosing to spend Christmas alone in the US rather than give up the fight for green cards.

THE Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) held a major rally in the Bronx area of New York city last Friday to highlight the plight of undocumented Irish immigrants.

Foreign Affairs Minster Dermot Ahern has made 16 transatlantic trips to the US in two years to lobby for immigration reform, it emerged today.

Today’s US Senate decision to fast-track new immigration measures is an important and positive step, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has said.

The Government is to give an additional $50,000 (€38,997) to an influential lobby group working to ensure undocumented Irish can stay in the US, it emerged today.

THERE was a palpable sense of anger in Long Island’s Irish Centre on Saturday night when Kerry woman Mary Brennan took the stage.

WHILE it may seem ironic that Europe proved divided on the question of labour market access on the same day as millions of immigrant workers were expected to protest in the United States, it is important that Ireland has already taken a very unambiguous position in its attitude to immigrant workers.

Tens of thousands of Irish people living illegally in the US may benefit after the Senate agreed a new Immigration Reform Bill.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern may jet into Washington next week in a last-ditch lobbying bid on US immigration reform.

New York City Council’s first openly gay leader, who is boycotting today’s parade because organisers barred Irish gays and lesbians from joining the festivities for the 16th straight year, blasted its chairman for remarks that compared gay Irish-American activists to neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and prostitutes.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is due to meet a number of US Senators today to discuss moves to secure an amnesty for illegal Irish immigrants.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is today beginning a US visit, set to be dominated by the Northern peace process, with a stop-over in Silicon Valley boomtown San Jose which he twinned with Dublin when lord mayor 20 years ago.

THE Government is making a major effort to have around 50,000 Irish immigrants in the US legalised.

FEARFUL Irish emigrants working illegally in the US hope a new visa deal can be hammered out to let them stay.

Councils in the Republic were today urged to join an all-island campaign to prevent 25,000 undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States becoming the victim of tough new laws.

A new lobby group is hoping to secure reform in US immigration for the thousands of Irish people living and working illegally in the US.