Monday, February 27, 2006

Can I see my grandkids?

I am a granny who doesn't see my grandkids only when I can afford to go to see them as I live in Ireland. It's expensive and not easy, it's a long journey for a cuddle but worth it. Give me a break and let them come to see me.
Thanks
Maria

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am 27 years old & came here four years ago to live the American dream. I could write a book on my life (like millions of others I'm sure) since I've come here & I truly believe it would become a best seller!!! Trying to become legal has been a nightmare.Thank God for the Irish who find humour in every tragedy!! I even hired an attorney who somehow failed to get me the H1b visa? I have spent so much money on attorney fees. I just want to live a normal life, to be a proud Irish woman in America. I do not want to hide anymore. I want my identity back. I am well educated, (graduated from University of Limerick with an honours degree),hardworking,honest & want to pay taxes. I love America but feel so bad for my family in Ireland & here in America as I am a constant worry for them. It breaks my heart. I want to be free.I am very lucky & grateful for everything that I have but I can not live like this anymore.I would not wish this on anyone. I am sick of being depressed & watching over my shoulder.I want to have normal relationship with my boyfriend. I want to do the normal simple things at my age, like joining the gym, buying my own car/house, have a drivers licence, open a bank a/c & travel, all of which we often take for granted.My biggest regret is coming to America without the greencard. I didn't think. I was 23. I am so grateful to the ILIR. Thank you for all your hard work. I am emailing everyone I can about the ILIR.Let's fight for FREEDOM!

Colm McHugh said...

Why not go home to Ireland ? I can't understand why you or anyone would want to live illegally in the US when you could live with a good job in Ireland, given your education. Ireland needs people now, its not like it was 15 years ago when high unemployment drove people away. I have lived in the US for 10 years, am a US citizen and I plan to return to Ireland this year. I can't wait. Living here (the US) is good, but I can't see what the fuss is all about.

Anonymous said...

COLM MChugh not trying to be a smart arse but when you go home you will see what all the fuss is about.This great celtic tigher they talk off is over 10 years old now why did you come here again

Anonymous said...

I wish you all well. I was living in England with my British boyfriend (now hubby) and it was so stressful living under the radar- not being able to work in my profession. I understand your feelings and until we enact a fair and rational immigration policy, I am afraid the situation is not going to get better. Immigration is what made this country, yet many people, themselves products of a more fluid immigration policy, wish to tighten the regulations even futher. How soon they forget where they came from.

Anonymous said...

It's amazing, the way citizens of other countries treat Americans when we go to visit, but you want to come here and stay and work illegally while sending your money back home, any you expect us to kiss your asses. HYSTERICAL. My ancestors came here LEGALLY. If you really want to come here and stay here, why not do it the way my ancestors did rather than DEMANDING a free ride with your pathetic marches and whining? huh? Answer me that, and then you might have an argument to make, otherwise, you have no valid points to debate with. Just a bunch of angry, US law-breaking, criminals (and yes, if you come here undocumented, you are a criminal by nature even if you are not a "bad" person). You should be afraid, Americans are FINALLY standing up for our rights to keep our wages up and keep the unwanted at bay. Sorry you think your country sucks so bad that you had to come here. Why is it so trendy with you and the hispanics anyways? GEEZ. Fix your own countries, and quit trying to break ours like you did your own.

Anonymous said...

To narrowback: as an Irish immigrant that is returning to live in Ireland later this year, I can empathize with your father's generation. I have uncles that came here in the 30's, 40's, and fought in the Korean war and WWII. Returning was not an option for them, because Ireland at that time was basically a third world country. For my generation that came out in the 90's immigration was more of a choice. For us, the nature and experience of being an immigrant is different, and there's nothing wrong with making some money and going home. While I've been here, I've paid taxes and contributed to the economy. I've put a lot more in than I've taken out. However, my loyalty and identity will always be with Ireland. Does that make me anti-American ? I hope not, because I really like living here, but my heart and soul are in Ireland, as corny as that may sound. That may be true of your parents, and I am lucky that I have the possibility to return home. The fact is permanent immigration is a curse on the country being left behind, an indication it's in a pretty bad state and has little to offer. Thankfully Ireland has changed from your and my father's time. I'm glad there isn't as much permanent immigration from Ireland not because I'm anti-American but because I'm pro-Ireland. Who wants to see a country drained of it's people ? Maybe the tension you speak of arises from a resentment on the Irish side about feeling they have to come here, or uncertainty as to why they're here (a lot of people come over without really thinking it through, as daft as that sounds), and a resentment on the American side that Irish now come here but don't stay. The fact is we live in a global world and climate where people can move around more fluidly. Maybe it's growing pains adopting to this different style of immigration.

Anonymous said...

To narrowback: thanks for your good wishes, it sounds like your parents and mine have a very similar rural background. I agree that Ireland owes a lot to that generation for putting food on the table during some lean times. However, I have to say it's still puzzling to me why you consider it a gripe that Irish green card holders would choose to return to Ireland ? Getting a green card is an enormous gift, but it doesn't include an obligation to stay for the rest of your life. As a counter-example, counsider my (American) cousin, he went to live and work in Ireland for a number of years, then chose to return to live here. Was he under any obligation to remain there and work ? No, not as far as I was concerned, and I feel the same way about Irish living here. I would say look at it in a positive light, many Irish people came here, gave years of their talent in working here, and then took their experience back to Ireland. Both countries benefitted. I hope that I can bring back my valuable experiences from living and working here and put them to positive effect. Again, thanks for your wishes!

Anonymous said...

To Narrowback, you obviously feel strongly about this, and we can agree to disagree. I respect your opinion, and I would like to dig a bit deeper to get a clearer picture of where you're coming from. My question is, well, two questions actually: firstly, why exactly is it disgraceful what the 1980's generation did ? And secondly, how can this point be practically addressed ? The fact is people are free to move around, and unless you institute some possibly severe restrictions, how are you going to prevent people from returning home if that's what they ultimately want ?

And, to let you know where I'm coming from, I think it's great that your parents chose to remain in the US because they felt more American than Irish. I have an uncle and an aunt in the Bronx that did the same thing. I can fathom that very well. And, I also think it's equally great that many of the 80's generation "ran home" a few years later, because they felt more Irish than American. I can fathom that equally as well. In fact, in an ideal world I would like to see everyone return to Ireland, because that's where my heart is. But from what you say you have a problem with what the 80's generation did, and I'd like to invite you to go into some detail on why you have a problem with it. You did mention one thing, which I agree with completely, and that is it is a disgrace that people use a green card as a Vacation token. But, that is not practical and I dare say a minority of green card holders get away with that. So... what else ? I'm curious.

Anonymous said...

Hi Narrowback, thanks for your explanation. Your reference to your IIRM work in the 80's really helps clarify your view. The immigration issue is really complex. This won't be a popular thing to say on this message board, but I believe that it is basically criminal that a company/business gives work to an illegal immigrant instead of to an American. That is dysfunctional and needs to be fixed. (On a side-note, why is it that employers have been so absent from the illegal immigrant debate ? The ease with which it is possible to run a business is vital to the US economy, but employers have to be somehow accountable). I find it quite depressing when I read stories like the one here about the illegal Irish smuggling probe. Ireland isn't a third world country, why are people compelled to do that? Where is their dignity or sense of self-worth? I find myself feeling for illegal immigrants, being potential (and real) victims of exploitation. But I also find myself questioning if it's fair that they should be granted status having complicitly taken part in a criminal act. Some people here say that they steal jobs from Americans, and yes I agree 100% that a job given to an illegal immigrant is a stolen job. But who is the thief ? The employer looking for a cheap and fast form of labor ? Or the society eager for a fast-track to economic expansion ? It's not easy to give a straight answer. I feel the bottom line driving all this is economic; there is a percieved threat to the status of illegal immigrants so the potential source of labor for many businesses, from bars to construction, is under threat. Well maybe it's time to look to Americans to do the work.