Ahern tries to lift deportation threat to illegal Irish in US

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern today moved to lift the deportation threat hanging over 25,000 illegal Irish immigrants in the US with a hectic round of lobbying in Washington DC.

He was holding talks with senior Congressional figures ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with US President George W Bush as he pressed the case for the undocumented Irish workers.

However, Mr Ahern admitted it was a tough battle in light of Ireland’s strong home economy.