Lobby group seeks immigration reform in US

A new lobby group is hoping to secure reform in US immigration for the thousands of Irish people living and working illegally in the US.

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform wants assurance that the 25,000 Irish people believed to be in America illegally will be able to remain there.

It outlined its intentions at a meeting in Manhattan yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has recently been pushing for the status of immigrants to be legalised, and he has received the support of several US Senators.