Irish TDs in Washington to support immigration bill

A cross-party group of TDs is departing for Washington today to lobby in support of a planned amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Earlier this year, the US Senate agreed a bill that would allow immigrants who have been in the country for several years to seek eventual citizenship provided they pay a fine and any outstanding back taxes.

This legislation must now be reconciled with a separate House of Representatives bill that would actually come down harder on illegal immigrants and those who help them.

The issue is up for discussion in Congress again this week and politicians from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein are travelling to Washington today to lobby in support of the Senate bill.

An estimated 11 million people are living and working in the US without proper documentation, including tens of thousands of Irish citizens.