Thursday, March 08, 2007

Irish-America to Capitol Hill: Legalize the Irish. Pass Immigration Reform.



16 comments:

Anonymous said...

We had a great day in DC. I am an American citizen. I took off work yesterday to support my fellow Irish. It was truly a remarkable experience. I made some new friends, saw some old friends from past lobby days and was able to personally share my support of comprehensive immigration reform with my elected officals and their staff. Thank you ILIR for making this healthy exercise in Democracy possible. I can't wait to wear my Legalize the Irish shirt on St. Patrick's Day to spread the word.

Anonymous said...

Are you a naturalized (foreign-born) US citizen?

Anonymous said...

Living in Texas, our lives are constantly complicated by the overwhelming mass of illegal aliens from Mexico and other points South. What do I find today, but a story about 50,000 Irish illegals wanting their Us citizenship handed to them. I had no idea that were that many Irish slackers on our shores. Ireland is an incredible nation, but it needs help to realize it's full potential. Mexico is a nation rich in culture and resources, but it needs help to blossom. Why should we welcome a group of people to our midst, when they've deserted the land of their birth when it needs them most? Democratic and economic reforms are more within reach today than they have ever been, but these "immigrants" have bailed on their homelands in their hour of greatest need. The US has enough "fairweather" friends now. NO thank you. Go home and do your part.

Anonymous said...

Well Mr. Texas, dry your eyes. We have done our part in our native land, now we have come to help you. Immigrants build the roads, bridges, houses to live and building to work in and of course fought for America in wars. Back then you needed immigrants and they got welcomed with open arms. Back then there was a immigration system so it was easy. Its not our fault that the immigration system is broken.

We have not deserted our native land, we just wanted to come to America, others might have come just to surive. So I figure the best way to solve this problem is immigration reform. If this doesn't happen the problem will never go away. So you could support it and make this country safer, by securing the borders and and keeping terrorists out, or just don't. We will be right behind you if you happen to change your mind and help legalize the good hard working people who want to make America even better.

Anonymous said...

The Irish are not looking to have anything handed to them. They want a chance to EARN their way to legal status. They will pay the fines and wait in the lines.

Martin Hurley said...

Living in Texas, our lives are constantly complicated by the overwhelming mass of illegal aliens from Mexico and other points South.

Why don't you call 911 when you see anymore and get them deported?

What do I find today, but a story about 50,000 Irish illegals wanting their Us citizenship handed to them. I had no idea that were that many Irish slackers on our shores.
Slackers? Put yourself in our position in the morning, no SS number, no DL and still able to get by and prosper..Yes, we are slackers alright.

Ireland is an incredible nation, but it needs help to realize it's full potential. Mexico is a nation rich in culture and resources, but it needs help to blossom. Why should we welcome a group of people to our midst, when they've deserted the land of their birth when it needs them most? Democratic and economic reforms are more within reach today than they have ever been, but these "immigrants" have bailed on their homelands in their hour of greatest need. The US has enough "fairweather" friends now. NO thank you. Go home and do your part.
Listen buddy. You are an immigrant as well, unless your native American...I'm here illegally, pay taxes, pay a mortgage, health insurance and live an american lifestyle. I love this country and want my kids to be American as you are. If Ellis Island had the same standards back in the day, as they have today, you would be picking potatoes in Europe and America would be overun by buffalo, so SHUT YOU RACIST MOUTH!!!!

Anonymous said...

That looks like a future president there in the green cap! Great photo!

AAAAANDRE said...

Hmmm? Allow 15 Million Mexicans to help 40,000 Irish???
I don't think so!
Sounds like a BAD deal to me.

I wondered why Teddy Kennedy was so hot to sell out our country... Just to get a few of his "buddies" a free ride. Sheesh!

Why don't you lobby for more LEGAL Irish visas or something constructive.

Anonymous said...

Can`t we all just get along?

Anonymous said...

Great to see the bigots rising to the forefront. If you are so interesting in deporting those that cannot avail of the opportunity you have, get yourself down to DC and protest. Talk is cheap. At least, we are getting involved in the political process trying to better ourselves and the country in the process. FYI, there are 34 million people of Irish descent in the U.S. And unless you are native Indian or lets stretch a bit and say your ancestors landed on Plymouth Rock, then you are an immigrant too. Bigots like you have nothing else to do except throw out narrow minded, shallow opinions. If you are so worried on the matter, get your shovel and your cement mixer and get building the 700 mile border fence between the US and Mexico. At least then you can say you did something to promote your belief. Legalize the Irish!

Anonymous said...

There is so much flagrant talk about rights and political processes. Yes, I am a descendant of immigrants, processed through Ellis Island LEGALLY, during a period when this country needed immigrants. Your very presence here is a criminal conspiracy, from your entry to the US, to your operating below the radar without SS# or DL, and God knows what other activities. The very fact that you're breaking the law, and dismiss it with such a cavalier attitude, is reason enough not to grant you citizenship. Every breath you take is stolen. Every minute of your life, you're breaking the law. Don't you understand. You're a CRIMINAL! You need to look up the word bigot (a word which is thrown around quite frequently these days, mostly be people with no argument). Someone who doesn't want to associate with criminals is not a bigot. Perhaps you could show me many things, but right now, you're showing me your disregard for the law. I doubt this comment will make it past the blog author, since it will undoubtly rain on his little pep rally.

Anonymous said...

Good to see that you admit to being an immigrant, congratulations. At least we agree on someting. I think you need an education on a couple of things: immigrants are most definitely needed to support farming and the restaurant business to name two industries. As for every breath being stolen by being here, the air belongs to this planet not a country so your air comment is a lacking a bit. Immigrants have been at the backbone of this country's success. What about JFK or Ronald Reagan, if people like you were around back when their ancestors came to this country, these men would not have become President of this country. As for being undocumented being a criminal, your pals that voted for the Sensenbrenner bill to criminalize the undocumented namely Sensenbrenner and J D Hayworth to name just two were voted out in the November election, so it is fair to say that the citizens of the USA spoke loudly on how felt about criminalzing illegals. We are NOT leaving and it is tremendous that you get so much trouble from us wanting to have the same opportunity you have. By the way, I was born in this country. You must be very disappointed your comment made it past the Blog editor, the ILIR does not censor, that is why you get to air your anti immigrant sentiment freely.

Anonymous said...

Oh Ireland, you have broken my American heart! You say you want to be able to stay, do it the right way! We have laws and now, you too are ignoring them and helping to destroy our country! Our neighborhoods are being destroyed by millions of illegal aliens! TWENTY FIVE Americans are being killed EVERY DAY by illegal immigrants! We do NOT want neighbors who use the yard as a bathroom! We do NOT want drug lords to rule ANY part of our beautiful American land! God help us! Shame on you all! Do you even know about La Raza? Do you even know about the Reconquista? Do you even know that California, Arizona and Texas have almost been completely taken over? Are you aware that black Americans are being killed because they are black? We DO NOT WANT TOTALY ANARCY in the United States of America! You want to be an American? Do it the right way! Follow our laws! Go through the process that already exists! Stop helping the Reconquista! Oh Ireland, what are you doing? My heart is sick from learning about what you are doing! Do you use fake names too? Do you steal American Social Security numbers too? Do you change your name often too? Do you flee the scene of a traffic accident too? Are you also responsible for our hospitals closing all over our country because you are using fake names? Are you, Ireland, helping to destroy America?
I have always loved being Irish but I am an American first! I cannot tell you how much this hurts me! And don't tell me to dry my damn eyes either! This is MY country and I will cry for Her whenever I choose! Will you sit as we rise to our national anthem too? Will you burn the American flag too? You are helping to destroy my daughters' futures. They will soon be outnumbered by the Latino vote and when they come of age, their votes, in their own country will no longer count! God help you! God save America!

Anonymous said...

The undocumented Irish are NOT criminals. Call them names and mistate the law, but you will not break the Irish spirit.

The undocumented Irish are hard working and family-oriented people who make my community a great place to live. Their drive, determination, and sense of community is what makes America so great. Legalize the Irish!

By the way, the National Lobby Day and Rally attended by thousands of Irish-Americans from across the country and by numerous Senators and House Members was not a "little pep rally."

Anonymous said...

Oh American, or should I say Irish American, which is what you are. Given your fears of a Mexican takeover of the Southwest, you should be all for immigration reform which will not only provide a path for the Irish, but also for undocumented from other parts of Western Europe such as Italy and Poland. The legislation that is being proposed calls for an earned path to citizenship. This means that we will have to pay fines, back taxes etc. and will have to earn our way to green cards and eventually citizenship. This is NOT an amnesty. The process that you keep referring as "Do it the right way" is the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. This is the only "legal" means to gain entry to the US. There are 50,000 visas distributed worldwide annually on a lottery basis. Ireland has only received on average 160 of these visas per year as the program is based on population. Countries like the Ukraine, Bangladesh etc. get the lion's share of the visas. This is the only means by which we can legally get in. For a country that has 34 million people of Irish ancestry of which you are one of of despite your America first position, do you think 160 visas is a fair share? Given your deep rooted immigration fears, you probably will think 160 is too much for the land where your ancestors immigrated from. I wonder what your Irish ancestors who undertook the dangerous and difficult journey to the U.S would think to hear the views that you have.

There are 11 million undocumented immigrants here. We can choose to pretend they are not here or we can give them a chance to pay into system and have their chance at the American pie. Of course, you could do the fundraising on behalf of the American government to track down the 11 million undocumented, put them on planes that would be lined up from NY to Seattle to fly them out and finally deport them all. Do you really think that is going to happen? The answer is No. So why not try and do something and that is what our movement is all about. We want to create an opportunity for the undocumented Irish like your ancestors did for you. For that we are willing to pay whatever fines and taxes are deemed necessary. By the way, we stand proudly for the American National Anthem.

Anonymous said...

BOY OH BOY.

WHAT COMMENTS WHEN AT THE END OF THE DAY - A LITTLE SPOT ON THIS EARTH WILL DO US ALL - APPROXIMATLEY SIX FOOT BELOW. THIS LIFE IS ALL TO SHORT FOR THESE COMMENTS AND WE WOULD HAVE NOTHING HAD IT NOT BEING GIVEN TO US FROM GOD. AND IS IT NOT THAT USA IS A COUNTRY THAT - TRUSTS IN GOD - A NATION THAT BELIEVES IN FREEDOM - FREEDOM UNDER CERTAINS TERMS MR TEXAS?????? YOU SAID YOU HAVE DAUGHTERS - I HOPE TO GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE EXAMPLE OF --HOLD OUT A HAND IF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING NEEDS IT - GIVE OUT A SMILE IF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING LOOKS SAD - LEND A SHOULDER IF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING NEEDS HELP TO STAND UP. THE WORLD THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD GOT BEHIND THE USA WHEN SEPTEMBER 11TH HAPPENED AND YES - SOME OF THOSE BEHIND YOU WERE IRISH. YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE - THE IRISH - ARE LOOKING TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY YOUR COUNTRY BY DECLARING THEIR PRESENT IN IT AND BY PAYING THEIR DUES TO YOUR COUNTRY WHY BE SO HOSTILE. MAYBE ONE DAY YOU'LL BE THE HUMAN BEING THAT NEEDS A HAND, SMILE, SHOULDER AND THE PERSON LOOKING BACK AT YOU -- MIGHT JUST BE IRISH.

GOS BLESS ALL PEOPLE IN THE USA NO MATTER WHAT NATIONALLITY CAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE ON THIS EARTH FOR A REASON.

BYE

IRELAND