New hope for undocumented Irish in America

Thousands of undocumented Irish people living in America are a step closer to gaining citizenship, after a group of US Senators agreed a deal aimed at dealing with millions of foreigners living in America illegally.

Under the radical proposals, illegal immigrants would be allowed to register with the US government, pay a fine, and then be given probationary legal status, allowing them to work.

The legislation has yet to be written and it must still pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives, however.

The move came as big business and a union federation reached agreement to allow tens of thousands of low-skilled workers in to fill jobs in building, restaurants and hotels.

The news is being hailed as a massive breakthrough and could have a major impact on the estimated 50,000 illegal Irish immigrants living in the US.

One senator tried to calm expectations of a wide-scale agreement on one of the country’s most complicated and divisive issues, however.

“Reports that the bi-partisan group of eight senators have agreed on a legislative proposal are premature,” Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican with the group, said.