Limerick-born priest says US immigration crackdown is ‘terrifying for all communities’

New York-based Monsignor James Kelly says Trump-era ICE arrests are creating fear, desperation and chaos across immigrant communities in the US

Protestors clash with federal agents in Saint Paul, Minnesota after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in her car on the streets of Minneapolis. Picture: Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty 

A Limerick born Monsignor based in Brooklyn has described the recent ramp up of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US as “terrifying for all communities”.

Protests have been taking place in Minneapolis following the shooting dead of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good behind the wheel of her vehicle this week.

Her death comes as ICE continues to make thousands of arrests following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Their actions often take place in public settings which is leading to resistance in communities across America.

Ms Good, who was originally from Colorado Springs, was "probably terrified" during the confrontation with officers on the street that saw her fatally shot as she tried to drive away, her mother said.

Monsignor James Kelly (87) is originally from Adare. He is the pastor emeritus of St. Brigid’s Parish in Bushwick, Brooklyn. He is also a lawyer working in the courts with immigrants including the Irish for legal papers.

He told the Irish Examiner he has never seen “anything like this level of crackdown on immigrants” since he moved to the US in 1960.

“This is very different,” he said. “The only thing is, the Irish are not coming in big numbers anymore. There is no real big influx.

“The second generation of Irish are now more skilled and educated and getting better jobs. They are not a big problem any more for anyone.

“Thankfully I am not aware of any Irish people in difficulty, not in this area. They are going to court where I assist them with their green cards but so far, the Irish and the Italians are not getting much hassle."

He added that changes to immigration brought in under the Trump administration have left communities “terrified”.

I don’t know why Trump is doing this, but he is getting rid of all the immigrant workers on the farms and we have no one to do that work.

He said the immigrants are "coming in and working off the books, and they want the green card". 

"They marry an American but most of the marriages don't last. 

"In all my years I never saw anyone going after the immigrants like this. They are trying to adjust to the situation here and they are frightened. We have a stream of people every morning.

“It is much more difficult to get a green card than it used to be and people are desperate."

He said his office opens Monday to Sunday and he sees around 60 people every day and the facility provides English classes while he is authorised to do legal work.