CNN feature on plight of undocumented Irish

CNN talks to ILIR founder Niall O'Dowd, Orla Kelleher from the Aisling Irish Center and "Bridget," in New York as part of a feature on the plight of the undocumented Irish. 

Former INS counsel at USCIS explains why immigration system is broken and needs fixing

Sarah Thomas Maldonado inserts some sane commentary on the so-called debate over immigration.
As Maldonada makes clear at LoHud.com, "for the majority of people, there is currently no legal way to apply to become a resident/citizen of the United States."
She should know.
Maldonado, who currently heads the Immigration Law Practice at Jones Garneau LLP, is a former assistant district counsel at the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Read what she has to say http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107290336.

And still the deportations go on...

The New York Times reported the sad story of the Irish man who now faces deportation after spending the July 4 holiday with his American girlfriend on a yacht in the Long Island Sound. The Times story reveals how he was caught by Coast Guard Officials during a customs check of the yacht.

Irish fleeing Ireland in droves as emigration set to hit 120,000 for year

Here's an image to stop you in your tracks. The number of people who will emigrate from Ireland in 2010 and 2011 will add up to 120,000. And as the business editor of the Irish Independent pointed out last week, that is the figure given by the last census for the population of Cork City.
Think about it. Imagine chopping off Cork and letting it drift into the Irish Sea and then around the corner of the Kerry coast into the Atlantic. Before you know it, Cork would be bumping up against Manhattan.
Read more at IrishCentral

There Are Illegal Irish Immigrants Too

CQ WEEKLY – VANTAGE POINT

May 31, 2010 – Page 1318

By Theo Emery, CQ Staff

More than half of illegal immigrants to the United States come from Mexico, which puts our

southern neighbor at the center of the immigration debate and is the reason President Obama last week said he would send National Guard troops to help protect the border.

But what about the Irish?

An Irish-American group has for several years lobbied to arrange a path to citizenship for the 10,000 or more illegal Irish immigrants in the country — an asterisk among roughly 10 million undocumented non-citizens, but significant nonetheless.

“As far as Irish immigrants are concerned, a ‘no Irish need apply’ sign hangs on the Statue of

Liberty. Take it down,” says Ciaran Staunton, who co-founded the Irish Lobby for Immigration

Reform in 2005 and worked with Sens.

Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and John McCain of Arizona on their immigration (ROLL CALL / CHRIS MADDALONI) legislation.

Staunton is part of a coalition of immigrant-rights groups, ranging from Asians (an estimated 1

million illegal immigrants) to Africans (perhaps 300,000), urging Congress to act this year on

comprehensive legislation that would, among other things, allow a chance for citizenship.

But it’s hard to be heard in the dominant debate over Mexicans and other Latin Americans.

Asians and Africans, despite their numbers, “are often actually ignored when it comes to

dialogue or discussions about immigration reform,” says Chuks Eleonu, president and CEO of

the African Peoples Action Congress.

Staunton, however, doesn’t begrudge Latinos the attention. “When you fire a stone at an

undocumented from Nicaragua, you’re hitting one from County Kerry,” he says. “We’re all in it

together.”

Source: CQ Weekly

The definitive source for news about Congress.

© 2010 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Irish advocate presses immigration reform

From the San Antonio News

By Elaine Elaya

Ciaran Staunton, (above) president of the New York-based Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, was in San Antonio on Friday to promote passage of comprehensive immigration reform and encourage Irish Americans to push their congressional delegations for support.

Proposed reforms — yet to be introduced in Congress and stymied amid divisions over clearing a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the nation illegally — rest in the office of Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

This week, President Barack Obama reiterated his support for immigration reform during Mexican President Felipe Calderón's visit, adding that Republican support is crucial for passage.

Staunton agreed. Read more

There's work to do

Thanks so much to everyone who came out Thursday night for the meeting in Queens. Sen. Schumer's message was clear; there's work to do.

IrishCentral.com posted on the evening of the meeting. Read the blog post here.

Sen. Schumer gave a wonderful injection of spirit to the 350 strong meeting as he pledged "We're not giving up on immigration reform.

His surprise visit to the meeting was in an effort to rally much needed support. He explained that the effort needs another Republican backer in the Senate.

"But," he said, "that's why we need your help."

"We're about ready to go...We're not there yet but we're getting there."

The Irish Echo newspaper also published an article this week summarizing the evening. To read the article click here.

Schumer proposes to have a comprehensive immigration reform bill ready for congressional debate by May 1.

He insisted that he is committed to a comprehensive immigration reform “with every atom in my body,” to getting “a strong comprehensive immigration reform bill through this year.”

“I believe in this cause; we’re going to get this immigration bill done.”

Bruce Morrison described Senator Schumer as being a super campaign leader but also said “he’s not God, he needs us.”

Later on this afternoon the Irish Echo also posted a blog on the possibility of a “May Surprise”.

One message that was clear is that politicians need our support to keep pushing for a comprehensive immigration reform.

Please keep an eye on the blog or search for “Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform” on facebook.com for the latest news from the group.

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