Dáil group to lobby US politicians on immigration bill

A delegation of TDs and Senators is due to depart for Washington DC today as part of an ongoing campaign to seek an amnesty for illegal Irish immigrants in the US.

The delegation from the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee will be meeting with US politicians and organisations representing the illegal Irish during the visit.

The group will be seeking to drum up local support for a bill that would allow all illegal immigrants to regularise their status and receive a green card within six years.

Irish politicians have been lobbying in favour of the legislation for some time and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, raised the matter with President George W Bush on St Patrick's Day.

Up to 50,000 Irish emigrants are believed to be living and working illegally in the United States without any documentation.

Many have put down roots, but risk being deported at any time or denied the chance to return to the US should they ever decide to visit their homeland in Ireland.