Minister presses 'undocumented Irish' case in US

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern promised to push for the rights of undocumented Irish immigrants tonight as he arrived in the US for a five-day visit.

Mr Ahern met members of the Irish community at the Emerald Isle Immigrant Centre in Queens, New York, and pledged to take their concerns to the highest level with US authorities.

Some 273 Irish citizens were deported from the United States between 2000 and 2004 and Mr Ahern said he would do all he could to get members of the community a sympathetic hearing.

“The Minister is acutely aware of the differences and challenges facing undocumented Irish in America,” his spokesman said.

“His visit to the immigration centre illustrates the difficulties these people are facing.”

However, Mr Ahern acknowledged that after the September 11 attacks the Bush Administration had to stringently address security issues in order to protect its borders.

Many Irish living in New York are unable to go home to visit their families as they would be unable to return.

The US has also clamped down on the issuing of documentation such as driving licences, demanding proof of legal residency.

Mr Ahern will raise the matter with senators including Edward Kennedy, John McCain and Hillary Clinton on Thursday.

Tomorrow the Minister will meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to discuss the UN summit to take place in New York in September and the findings of the recent independent interim report on the Oil for Food scandal in Iraq.

He is expected to suggest Ireland, as a neutral country, plays a central role in pushing for UN reform.

“He believes in a better regional balance for the Security Council,” his spokesman said.

The Minister will also travel to Washington where he will update senior Bush Administration officials on recent developments in the peace process and meet US special envoy Dr Mitchell Reiss.

Mr Ahern said it was an important time to brief US politicians and contacts on recent developments in Northern Ireland.