Ahern may fly to US for immigration debate

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern may jet into Washington next week in a last-ditch lobbying bid on US immigration reform.

The Kennedy/McCain Bill, which would allow Irish illegals to eventually remain in the US, passed through the Senate’s Judiciary Committee yesterday and is due to be debated on the floor of the House this week.

Mr Ahern said tonight: “It’s doing better than we expected. Last night’s agreement represents a very significant and positive development in the debate on the complex and sensitive nature of immigration reform.

“President [George] Bush has also been supportive of the general issue.”

The minister has visited the US several times since 2004 and his officials confirmed that he may make a 36-hour stop-over next week to lobby Senators on the Kennedy/McCain Bill.

“If the minister feels that a final push is needed to pass the Bill, then he will make the trip,” one official said.

Hundreds of thousands of US immigrants staged weekend protests on immigration reform in Los Angles, Denver and several other cities.

A five-member delegation from the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, led by chairman Michael Woods, is also visiting Washington this week on the issue.

The Kennedy/McCain legislation would allow the estimated 50,000 Irish illegals to stay in the US and work while applying for a green card and eventual citizenship.

“This would mean that the undocumented would receive work and travel authorisation, which would provide them with greater protection in the workplace and allow them to travel to and from the US without fear of being refused re-entry.

“I know that this would be a great relief to them and to their families.”

Mr Ahern reiterated that the Government sees the status of Irish illegals in the US as a top priority and remains actively involved on a daily basis with his department’s Irish Abroad Unit.

“It is a matter that is raised in all contacts with US political leaders on St Patrick’s Day and other occasions in recent years.”

Mr Ahern also praised the work of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR), which received a start-up grant of 30,000 from the Irish Foreign Affairs Department.

The Irish Abroad Unit within the department was continuing to liaise with the ILIR on the issue.

Mr Ahern added: “The Irish have made a significant input into the debate surrounding the total estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US.”