Ahern urged to speak up for US illegals

FINE Gael TD Jimmy Deenihan has urged Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to use US President George Bush’s visit to Ireland this weekend to seek regularisation of the status of at least 50,000 Irish nationals living illegally in America.

Mr Deenihan yesterday tabled a parliamentary question on the issue to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen.

“I am deeply concerned for the status of Irish immigrants who arrived in the States after 1995,” he said.

“The allocation of green cards since that time has been minimal and has therefore failed to reduce the number of undocumented Irish, conservatively estimated to be at least 50,000.”

Mr Deenihan said while many undocumented Irish citizens make a valuable economic and social contribution to the US, they face many hardships under immigration legislation.

He said many could not risk travelling home for fear of not being able to return.

“They are also subject to bureaucratic difficulties in terms of proof of identity when applying for or renewing a driver’s licence,” he said.

Mr Deenihan said a development this month would see those on H1B visas (professional visas for IT workers) having to go to a US visa-processing post outside the US to renew their visas.

“This presents a significant cost implication for the families involved who will have to leave their homes, jobs and schools for extended periods while awaiting approval,” he said.

“It will also negatively impact on companies sponsoring Irish workers who may have to pay for their employees to be processed and may decide to abandon the sponsorship.”

Mr Deenihan said it was worrying that the various proposals for reform appeared to be at a standstill.

“President Bush’s own proposal, which would allow undocumented Irish already in the States to avail of a three-year temporary work visa, was outlined in January but no legislation has been introduced to date,” he said.

“The relationship between Ireland and the US is predicated upon the history of Irish immigration into the States, and the plight of the tens of thousands of undocumented Irish is a key consideration in our future relations.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said there were no official figures for undocumented Irish people living in the US.