How would we feel if there was an immigration clampdown on us?

THEY'VE just passed a new law in the United States. It's been through Congress and the Senate with little fuss or publicity and was signed into law by President Bush a couple of weeks ago.

I can't understand why we're not up in arms about it especially as it has been made clear that it is specifically for the purpose of cleaning up the whole business of Irish people working illegally in the States.

It's called The Non-Americans Irish Act and, at first glance, it seems innocuous enough. Section one defines a non-American Irish person as anyone from Ireland who is not an American citizen or hasn't applied to become one. Sections two and three make it clear that, except in certain circumstances, non-American Irish people can own property and be treated under the law exactly the same as Americans.