The long fight for US immigration reform

IRISH-AMERICAN leaders are mounting a last-ditch effort as St Patrick’s Day approaches to win Republican support for immigration reform that would benefit thousands of Irish illegals across the United States.

Last St Patrick’s Day, the Irish had hoped they would be celebrating a path to US citizenship this year, but their hopes were dashed when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives failed to follow the Senate’s lead and take action on the issue.

This hasn’t stopped a hard-fought campaign by Irish-American leaders, who gathered in Washington last Wednesday to lobby Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, two days before Taoiseach Enda Kenny met President Barack Obama at the White House for St Patrick’s Day ceremonies, where reform was also discussed.