Irish in US different to immigrants here, says Ahern

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Minister Dermot Ahern last night insisted he would make no apologies for suggesting the undocumented Irish in America should be treated more leniently than illegal immigrants in Ireland.

Speaking last week during a visit to Washington, Mr Ahern said the undocumented Irish were “entitled” to be in the US because they had put down roots and helped build the economy, despite the fact they were residing there illegally.

By contrast, Mr Ahern indicated that illegal immigrants in this country had no right to remain here. He was specifically referring to the Afghan asylum-seekers who mounted a sit-in protest and hunger strike at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

The 33 men, who have been charged with unlawful occupation, will hear their fate when they appear in court again on June 19.

Speaking last night at a public meeting in Cork held to discuss the plight of the undocumented Irish, Mr Ahern reiterated his belief that the two could not be compared.

“Against the background of recent occupation of St Patrick’s Cathedral, I have been criticised for making a distinction between the undocumented Irish and those who occupied the cathedral,” he said in scripted remarks.

“I make no apologies for the distinction.”

Ireland had a “highly regarded system” for considering asylum cases, he said, the fairness of which had been praised by the UN Refugee Agency.

“Individual asylum seekers who have a good case receive a fair hearing. And ultimately, they have recourse to our courts,” Mr Ahern said.

Irish emigration to the US was unique, he insisted.

“Our people have built up the US. We’ve over 100 members of Congress, many presidents, and 44 million people who claim Irish descent.

The Senate last week passed a bill offering a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants. However, the other chamber of Congress, the House of Representatives, passed a separate bill last December which would criminalise illegal immigration.

The two chambers will now have to work out a compromise between the two documents, because a bill must pass both in the same form before it can be presented to the president for signature into law.