Senator stalls American bill that could offer 10,000 visas a year for Irish

A Republican senator has placed a hold on an immigration bill which is making its way through the US Senate and backed by Irish-American groups in recent months.

It had been hoped that approval of an expansion to the E-3 legislation would pave the way for up to 10,000 visas a year for skilled Irish workers.

However, according to the Irish Voice, Senator Charles Grassley from Iowa, as was expected, expressed his concerns about the bill, the broader aspects of which would also allow more hi-tech workers from countries such as China, India, and Mexico to come to America.