Irish try to join US army for citizenship

IRISH immigrants fearful of deportation are trying to join the US army to get legal status.

Despite the daily casualties among US soldiers in Iraq, immigrant centres are reporting a steady stream of inquiries.

“We have had several inquiries looking at the army as a means of citizenship,” said Siobhán Dennehy, the executive director of the Emerald Isle Immigration Centre in New York.

Last February, President George W Bush signed a special executive order to fasttrack the citizenship applications of the 31,000 solders in the US army who were not US citizens.

This prompted a wave of interest from some of the estimated 80,000 illegal Irish immigrants, who are coming under increasing pressure since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

The chances of getting a visa under the US Diversity Lottery are around seven million to one, driving licences are no longer issued to immigrants and border crossing points and airports are being closely watched.

However, the Emerald Isle Immigration Centre is urging immigrants not to apply to join the US army. The army now insists that its recruits possess green cards, which give limited legal rights to those staying in the US, and also carries out detailed background checks.

“It’s not possible for immigrants to legalise their status using that avenue, so we don’t want them running down to the army to enlist - they might be turned in to the authorities,” Ms Dennehy said.

Although the strict new security regime is intended to prevent attacks from terrorist groups like al-Qaida, it is also effecting illegal Irish immigrants.

“There is definitely a growing sense of frustration amongst immigrants, who want to go home for a family wedding or funeral but they can’t. We’re seeing people disappearing off the radar screen and some of them are too afraid to visit us,” Ms Dennehy said.

Illegal immigrants who come to the attention of police, often due to road traffic or public order offences, are now being detained in county jails until their deportation order is processed.

“It ranges between two weeks and six months. Perhaps it is a form of discouragement but there are also investigations into their activities while resident in the US,” said Dr Anthony Finn of Emigrant Advice.