NewsWatch: Letter writers swamp Sunday Independent

On March 26, the Sunday Independent published this note:
Tax-paying Irish living in USA take exception to 'rat' claim

Several letters on this topic were received making the same points, so, in the interest of space, and avoiding repetition, this is a representation.

Sir - We were very distressed to see your newspaper publish such a negative article by Eilis O'Hanlon. Her remarks regarding the undocumented Irish immigrants present in the US were downright reckless and full of inaccuracies. Her suggestions that the undocumented Irish in the US at the moment have anything to do with supporting the Ku Klux Klan and the IRA are inaccurate and unsupported by any citation to published proof or evidence.

She alleges, without evidence, that the Irish pay no tax in the US and probably didn't in the nation "they buggered off from". Contrary to this report, the undocumented in the US pay millions of dollars each year through the use of Internal Revenue Service issued tax identification numbers. In fact, according to a published report in the Washington Post and reprinted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, between 1990 and 1998 undocumented workers paid nearly $20 billion to Social Security.

The facts are that there is no evidence presented within her article to support any of the allegations made by Ms O'Hanlon. At the Irish Pastoral Center in Massachusetts, we assist undocumented Irish immigrants each day on our hotlines. We see many who are exploited in the workplace, living in fear of reporting crimes committed upon them, and unable to go home to bury parents and loved ones. We see young men from Ireland work long hours for comparably low pay and we have lost some workers - killed in unsafe worksite accidents. We've had young women sexually assaulted in the workplace, too afraid to report the harassment to authorities because of their immigration status.

Many of the undocumented are living in great stress, depressed about their lack of status. We take thousands of such calls like these each year. This hardly suggests the undocumented Irish are "living it up" as Ms O'Hanlon suggests. The declaration that the young Irish immigrants, unaware of the complexity of visa matters upon their entry, working here waiting to be granted status are "rats" is deplorable and demeaning. We look forward to the reform of US immigration laws to allow hardworking, tax paying immigrants a chance to adjust their status here in America.
Sr Marguerite Kelly, Executive Director
Fr John McCarthy, Chaplain,
Irish Pastoral Centre, 953 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02170USA

Sir - I am disgusted, insulted and offended by your remarks and your attitude towards your own people who have emigrated to America (Eilis O'Hanlon, Sunday Independent, 19/03/06).
The plight of the Irish in America is a fact. There are thousands who cannot visit home for funerals, weddings, visitation of the sick, because they are "illegal". The vast majority of us did not "sneak" into the country as Ms O'Hanlon indicated. Many came on the Visa Waiver programme and many including myself came on a work permit.

The few that have to resort to "sneaking" into the country are forced to do so due to a failed immigration policy in this country. Many of these men and women are returning to an established life here. Many have sons and daughters born in the US.

You say that we never paid taxes in Ireland and now can't be bothered paying them in the USA. Oh, how uneducated you are, my girl. I paid taxes in England and Ireland for over 15 years. I never claimed any type of social welfare and played my role in contributing to national GDP.
On this side of the pond, I also pay my taxes. This is a very important point. It is possible to obtain a tax ID number over here. A form W7 is completed and a tax ID number issued. This allows the immigrant to pay taxes.

In fact, many immigrants are unaware of this and instead they work under false social security numbers. The bottom line is - we do pay our taxes here. You mentioned the Irish illegals deserting the sinking mother ship when times were hard. Get real girl. The sinking ship was kept afloat by the hundreds of thousands of dollars that were sent home in the form of the remittance.

For hundreds of years Irish emigration has been a given. What choice did we have but to emigrate. During the famine years alone the population decreased by millions. Believe me, if they stayed, your mother ship may have sunk.

The newly formed ILIR group is petitioning every senator and congressman in the whole country to support the Kennedy/McCain bill. It is the best option for the undocumented. Please note, we are at the front line of the battle over here. Approximately 50,000 Irish people are undocumented out of a total 11 million.

Yes, we the Irish are at the forefront of this campaign to legalise 11 million people including the poor Mexicans and others that you refer to in your article. We want all immigrants in this country to be legalised. Immigrants built this country and although you don't sound so proud of your Irish heritage, I am proud of the fact that the Irish built the railroads, the skyscrapers, the tunnels and the highways. Many of them died while doing it. Why should we be cast aside now?

Rebel songs will be sung in every corner of the world where there is an Irish man. They are also sung in almost every bar in Ireland. I don't think you yourself had to live with the direct consequences of the IRA that you seem to believe caused all the damage on our tiny island. The IRA is a symptom and not the cause of the violence in Ireland. I think you may thank Sinn Fein for being a major player in bringing stability to that island and you may thank Irish America for channeling their support to the American government and pushing for as much American involvement in the peace process.

Finally, a note to all the immigrants in Ireland. You are heartily welcome provided you work hard, respect your host country and pledge your loyalty to our flag. That's what immigrants are required to do in the US.
I feel more akin to the immigrant in Ireland than some of our own natives. We too have to do the menial work in America, believe it or not.
Ann Conlon, Legal Immigrant New York

If you would like to email the editor of the Sunday Independent, please email independent.letters@unison.independent.ie

NewsWatch: Eilis O'Hanlon Calls Irish Undocumented "Rats"

Eilis O'Hanlon, writing in the Sunday Independent on March 19, 2006, referred to the undocumented Irish as "rats". Needless to say, this provoked a storm of protest. For those of you who did not see the article, we are including it here:

Emigrants' plight we'd gladly share
IMMIGRANTS. Dontcha just love 'em? They come over here and work for a pittance, doing all the jobs we're too grand for these days, ensuring in the process that the Celtic Tiger keeps ticking over and that Ireland's a much more interesting, diverse and cosmopolitan country than it's ever been before in its history - and all they get in return is an earful of abuse and the blame for everything from the recent riots in Dublin to our appalling road safety statistics. Meanwhile, we're all supposed to be getting sentimental about the "plight" of our own illegal emigrants in the US.

This "plight", presumably, is that they've been living it up in the world's most dynamic and successful economy for years while paying no tax or national insurance, either in the country they sneaked into or the one they buggered off from, and who now have Irish politicians bending over backwards to help them out. That's the kind of plight we could all do with sharing, lads. Don't pay your Dirt tax in Ballydehob and you're a national disgrace. Don't pay any tax in Boston and you're apparently a national hero.

Irish illegals in America deserted the sinking mother ship when times were hard, and now the vessel's afloat again the rats expect us to help them out. And though Bertie has said he wants no special deal for the Irish, there are mutterings from others to say that if the current McCain/Kennedy bill fails then we should try to do a deal for our own. And to hell with all the poor Mexicans, Cubans, Chinese, Indians, Africans etc who need much more of a helping hand than we do. Why should we be a special case? Because we helped build the railroads?

Yeah, and we also helped build the Ku Klux Klan. You never hear Irish politicians boasting about that at the White House on Paddy's Day. What's hilarious is that the Irish illegals are now under pressure because, post 9/11, Americans are more sensitive about security and terrorism.

I bet some of those expats don't feel so blase now about all those years they spent out there singing rebel songs and drumming up support for the IRA while the rest of us back here actually had to live with the consequences. Still, if they're caught, I suppose they can always claim they were only birdwatching, like the Colombia Three.
Eilis O'Hanlon

Seamus: Update on Action Alert of March 16

So, I called the number for Specter's committee and the man who answered asked me if my call was related to immigration reform. When I answered yes, he put me through to voicemail! Keep those phone calls coming! We're having an impact!

Seamus: Greetings from Washington

After months of checking on the website, reading about other meetings, and going to our respective meetings , finally we were all in D.C together. Our purpose in Washington in more carefree times would have been to do a bit of sightseeing, and take in some of the restaurants. However, we needed to drop off our calling cards, so after registering at the Holiday Inn, and standing for the group photograph, it was onto Capitol Hill. Jimmy negotiated us safely to the steps of the Longworth Building, and, failing to secure the services of any decent bagpiper, we decided to enter quietly,
At each office that we went to, the staff were very polite to us, and we stated our case as clearly as possible, even though we didn`t always adhere to the notes.
Wednesday morning finds a lot of the Representatives over at the House, dealing with legislation, but their officials were, in general, very attentive. Most of them said they`d pass the paperwork onto the absent Congressmen and Congresswomen.
Representative Sanchez from the 47th District of California was very happy to see us, and exorted us to `let-them-know-it`s-not-just-Mexicans`. Her mind was soon at ease when we told her that there were 2,500 thousand of us around the corridors. We finished our meeting with Ms. Sanchez by serenading Kate Rose Riley, her legislative assistant, with `The Rose Of Tralee`, as she represented D.C in the 2005 Rose Of Tralee Final, in Tralee.
We called into a few Leadership Offices, also, and some of them wanted us to come back, later in the day, to meet the Committee people, and probably to have fun, too
.After most of us got something to eat, we went back to the hotel for the speeches. All of the speakers seemed to be on our side, and they truly gave us a lot of optimism, but, being Irish, we know that the `divil is always in the details`.
Listening to Edward Kennedy`s rivetting address, the words of his late brother Bobby ran through my head;
"Some men see things as they are and ask `Why?`
I dream things that never were and ask `Why not?`"
Thank you to Kelly, Ciaran and Niall for putting this whole movement together for us, it`s making a massive difference, and we can definitely got this thing accomplished, working together.

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

Breda: I'm ready to fight now

I was at my first meeting in Woodside and it really did empower me to make my contribution. I am so glad that I happened upon Rory Dolan's a few weeks ago even though the meeting was over. Last night, the speakers were so inspiring and comforting that I honestly felt like crying. I had another miserable Christmas, missed weddings, funerals, unable to comfort sick relatives, see my parents, sisters, brothers and nieces and nephews. I never felt like I had a right to feel bad or mad. Now I realize that I should feel angry. I have always believed that passion is the motivating factor behind EVERY success story. I was really impressed with the energy in the room - the speakers, the crowd and all the volunteers.

I somehow fell into PR through working in the film business at home and in NYC. I spoke briefly with Niall McDowd and told him that I would like to help by trying to enlist as many Irish or Irish American celebrities as possible to endorse the campaign and generate as much buzz and media coverage as possible. The combined efforts of us undocumented, our wonderful advisory board, Niall, Ciaran and Kelly, the volunteers should make us very a powerful group.

I will definitely be going to DC and I want Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Bono, The Corrs to come too. We need these people to help leverage media and make the campaign as high profile as possible. I am confident that we could get generous Irish American people to sponsor travel if needs be. We need quotes and words of support as this will raise our profile and educate people in a positive way.

Business owners especially those in the construction business should reach out to their workers and make sure that everybody knows about the ILIR. I will be reaching out to as many influential people as possible.

My Irish American cousins are behind me. My American friends are behind me. America still loves us but they are not aware of the seriousness of the situation. Just this morning, my 12 year old cousin Mickey said "If Poppy and Grandma didn't come here on a boat from Ireland, I would not exist and he also said "I would be in tears if you had to leave." He even wants to lobby in DC, God love him.

We are unified and I am glad. I have managed to get some work in the Arts but it has been a hustle and a struggle. I feel worried, alienated, guilty, hampered and anxious and my attempts to block it out are failing more and more as time goes by. We should not be criminalized and I will do everything I can to spread the word and force the senators to step up and help us in a positive way. I am so over the Xenophobia. The action component is what we Irish need. We stuck it out here. I have had so many people say "You are educated, why do you want to be in a country that does not want you or care about you? It's getting harder to defend my reasons for being here, seriously. We are living under unnecessary duress and it is not fair. We are good, honest, hard-working, creative, funny people and we deserve better.

Let’s make it happen, I am not disappearing under the radar any more. Being labeled "an illegal alien" is really insulting. I really admired the two female speakers who took to the podium last night- Good Job Girls. HE WHO DARES, WINS!!! Now we need some good news!

Susanne: An Irish woman in New York.

Every time I talk to people about living in New York as an undocumented immigrant the depressingly repeated question again and again is - why do you not go home? I have so many, many things to say to this that I bowl them over with my response and before I bowl you I will try to compact all of the buzzing words in my head in to this one simple statement: I am home, this is my home, my new home. I and countless Irish immigrants like me are home.

Have people forgotten what America is? Has the idea of coming to America and making it your home dead? What happened to the idea of a coming to a new place to raise your family to begin a life that was once just a hope in your heart?

Economic reasons are not the defining reasons why people emigrate, it most definitely once was a big motivation but not for all and not for me.

The Irish economy is doing so well and I am thrilled that things have changed in Ireland. However that is not grounds to just pack up and head out of a wonderful life that I created for myself here. The immigrants are not swans that flew south for the winter. We're not going to go flocking home now that it's that bit warmer (economically at least) now.

This is all related to what constitutes a life for each person, the friends you have here, the networking you have achieved in different areas, in work, in sport. The climate of the country and so many more little things that make your life in America, well your life. It is patronizing to get confused when people stay undocumented and do not move home to Ireland.

It is not a rejection of Ireland to want to live in America, the Irish immigrants I know celebrate their Irish heritage even more since living in America, along with embracing America.

The Irish Americans have shown time and time again that you can quite beautifully be both. So why can't we? Give us the chance we so desperately deserve to be the Irish Americans of the future. We choose this country with passion and sacrifice please now let this country choose us and adjust our status before it is too late and we do tragically go home and the future life blood of that great cultural marriage between Ireland and America will be sucked dry.

The Irish American ties

With regard to the current debate, please allow me to raise a few points which may be of use to others in forming a positive coalition of action.
In 1994 George W. Bush defeated Ann Richards for the Governorship of Texas. This was accomplished with the help of a P.R executive, Rob Allyn, who subsequently helped Mr. Bush with both of his successful Presidential bids. Mr. Allyn, who also helped Mexican President Fox in his electoral campaigns, has recently been retained by Mr. Fox, ostensibly to `market` Mexico`s input and approach to the impending U.S Immigration legislation. Indeed, it has been suggested that Mr. Allyn`s Mexican brief has the tacit encouragement of the U.S Executive Branch. This would seem to make sense, if it is accepted that President Bush has a very positive, indeed liberal view on immigration.
During the 2000 election, one of the central talking points of the campaign was Immigration Reform. When Mr. Bush became President, the general perception was that significant progress was about eighteen months down the road, and I well remember my heart skipping a beat at the prospects
Unfortunately, this country suffered a devastating blow on the 11th of September, 2001 and, while we all have war stories from that day of infamy, and grieved with the rest of America, life went on.
In the past few years, security at ports, airports and the U.S/Canada border have been greatly enhanced, and recently, much media attention has been afforded to the problems posed by illegal entry from the south. Unlawful infringments are classified as either Mexican or OTM (other than Mexican). In my opinion, there is a state of near-paranoia that people of nefarious intent could breach the U.S/Mexican border, bringing in weapons with them. While it is outrageous that any nation should be forced to counter such evil ideology, it is a fact that these are the times we live in.
A few years ago, I was in a chain bookshop in Manhattan, and wanting to purchase a book, I went to an assistant. When I told her that the book was called `How The Irish Saved Civilization`, she asked me if there was such a book, perplexedly. I bought two copies of Tomas Cahill`s masterpiece, got one of them wrapped, and gave it to her.
Let us all, for the next few months, continue to be upbeat and goodhumoured, and accentuate the greatest thing we`ve brought to this Nation; our Irishness, and our love of life. America and Ireland have, for centuries, enjoyed a close relationship.America never had a more constant, unwavering, loyal friend on the international stage, and the onus is on all of us to maintain and strengthen these ties.
At a gathering of the American Bar Association in Dublin, some time in 2000, Tanaiste/ Deputy Irish Prime Minister Mary Harney, in the course of her speech, stated;"Geographically we are closer to Berlin than Boston. Spiritually we are probably a lot closer to Boston than Berlin". Hopefully, the same spiritual closeness will resonate in our favour when the U.S Senate deliberates our status in the next few months.
Thank You To A Great Movement,
Mise,
Le Meas,
Seamus

Comment from an Irish American

I am an Irish American whose parents came from Clare and I believe the Irish have been nothing but a great help to this country. Myself and my friends will do everything in our power to help your cause. This kind of treatment is a disgrace for a country founded on immigration. I am sure we all remember what it says on the Statue of Liberty.

Waiting Paddy: I'd love to pay taxes...

Well hi there - my Mam texted me today to ask me to listen to the Pat Kenny show on RTE! Irish Radio Station - which was about the scams about the green cards - I have been living here undocumented for nearly 2 years. I came over here for the love of someone, I have enough money to live on, I don't take advantage of anything but like everyone else, can't get a driver's licence etc and as result have a big fear of getting ill or being in a car smash - My brother is a US citizen and sponsored me and it, by all accounts can take up to 14 years - I have outstayed my visitors visa now by 12 months and like everyone else wonder what will happen if something happens at home that I have to go home?? I think it is stupid - If I don't have to work, at least I should be able to get a driver's licence - I'm still working on my bank account in europe so that's not a problem. I would be more that willing to pay taxes etc, but this country won't let me - what's that all about? Look at the way Ireland has changed now - and after all - America has been built on immigration - without us - America wouldn't be as good as it is???? I need some real help. Thank you for listening. Your's... a waiting paddy!

Susanne: And yet another Irish immigrant gives up on America

An Irish immigrant I’ve known for the past seven years came into the restaurant where I bartend and told me he is moving home next month. I'm still shocked. This guy loves New York and has a great life here but things have gotten so desperate for the undocumented that he says he can't take it anymore. Basically, he can’t renew his driving license; and that's his life, that's how he gets to work.

I've all sorts of mixed feelings now. My own licence expires this year and I can't renew it either. I'm going over the same ground again, asking myself again all the despairing questions about my life here as an undocumented immigrant.

There are thousands of Irish immigrants in this same tragic situation and we're staying here, waiting and hoping for the McCain/Kennedy bill. It really is the only light at the end of this dark tunnel.

You feel so scared, lonely and isolated when you are undocumented but mostly you feel guilty about putting everything and everyone on hold while you wait.

I'm trying to take classes at college and I have to pay out of state tuition fees because I'm undocumented. It was embarrassing and humiliating at registration when I tried to explain why I had no social security number but can I please take classes anyway. Every time I sign up for a new class of my master’s at CUNY I go through the same thing.

If the bill gets passed my fees will be halved because I will be an in-state resident, just another of the many ways McCain/Kennedy would help me and thousands like me.

Siobhan: Have the succesful Irish forgotten where they came from?

I arrived in Boston in May 1997, and spent an amazing summer on Cape Cod. We left that September, having overstayed our 90-day visa waiver. I was only 21 and wasn't really thinking too far into the future. I returned to Boston in January 1998 and that was the last time I saw Ireland. I stayed in Massachusetts until late in 1999 and headed to New York to experience something different, not really thinking of visas or consequences at this point. Having fallen in love with New York and thriving there, I still live there, I love my job, but plan to go home in May permanently.

I do regret having stayed here so long illegally, I suppose I didn't see the time go really. I have traveled all over this beautiful country, and would have liked to build a real life here, but opportunities to do this aren't looking good at the minute. I really hope things pick up for the other illegals in America. Despite what anyone says we do jobs no Americans will do, and we do jobs no American will do as well as we can.

I believe the country needs us and it is a huge mistake to criminalize us, we are, for the best part, good people, hard workers who want nothing more than to be able to take part in American life, open a bank account, drive a car, go to school, visit the doctor, own a house, visit home without the fear of losing everything we have worked so hard for, basic things so many take for granted. America was my home for the past nine years, despite my lack of status, but I have given up on the government, and the Irish American's who don't seem to care about us anymore. There are so many influential Naturalized Irish here, with a huge voice who DO NOT USE IT. They have forgotten about us even though we work for them and run their multi- million dollar businesses, they have forgotten where they came from.

Myriam: What's Another Year?

What's another year? That old Johnny Logan Eurovision song is playing in my head. I am driving myself crazy and everyone around me with my melodious voice. What's another year? I keep saying to myself, over and over. I am trying to justify to myself and to my family why I am still here after 15 years and still undocumented. They can not understand why I would want to live in this country and not get documented, but it's not as if I don't want to get documented.

Every year I live in hope that this is the year; this is the year that we'll get legalized. Then it will all have been worth it. Let's face it, another year is nothing when you're in your 20s; like I was when I came to the USA. Like everyone else, I came for the craic and the adventure.
But now I'm in my 30s and life has changed. I want a different life, my priorities are different I do not want to live in the shadows anymore.

America has being my home for 15 years that is a lifetime, I love it here, and I want to stay here but I am at my wit's end. I need to be become a legal resident, I need to be able to live, work and play without looking over my shoulder. The time is now for action; All Irish, Irish-American and anyone else who would like to join in on the lobbying effort has got to do so now. The McCain Kennedy bill is the best solution, so the next few weeks and months are vital.

We've got to email and fax your local congressman/woman, your local senator and get the word out - SUPPORT THE McCAIN/KENNEDY BILL. What's another year? Well this is the year for our voices to be heard. And hopefully we'll hear it in Rory Dolan's in Yonkers on January 27th.

Susanne: Loved and hated at the same time...

Living as an undocumented Irish person in America is kind of like being loved and hated equally at the same time. You have so many positive aspects to your life and people who feel so positive about you; employers, American friends etc and then so many negative and fearful aspects. The former inspire you to stay while the latter urge you to pack up and go.

The Irish undocumented immigrants live here in America because they love the way of life and the opportunities afforded them in this great vast country in spite of the overwhelming fear of being undocumented.

On a daily basis our American dream turns into a nightmare. What if I get hurt badly or sick? I have no medical insurance because I have no social security number. What if a close family member gets sick or, the unthinkable, actually dies? Do I go home and lose my whole life here to attend the funeral.

I can not access the jobs I have the education and skills for without working papers so I work the only jobs that are available to the undocumented.

Now you can not renew your driving license another nail in the coffin, you can’t get a library card never mind a green one.

I recently read the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas and the last line of this book so adequately describes why me and thousands of Irish like me stay on, the line is simply “wait and hope” and that’s what we have been doing. That’s how we justify this to ourselves and to our families back home in Ireland, we will hang on another year.

Now I see that for the first time in a long time the undocumented Irish have real cause for hope from the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.

The Kennedy/McCain bill is our chance this year but only if we put weight behind it and support this bill.

The upcoming meeting in Rory Dolan’s in Yonkers on the 27th of this month is the first step and everyone that can possibly attend defiantly should, there is great solidarity in numbers. We are not alone a lot of people with the opportunities to bring about change are involved in this effort. Hopefully the undocumented Irish will wait no longer.

Christmas blues

I've been in the US on and off since 1988 and this is about the worst time I can remember for being an undocumented worker.

There seems to be no tolerance of immigrants anymore, we're all written off as a threat to the country's security, but we're Americans really, at the end of the day.

There's something ridiculously maudlin about hearing all those songs about going "home" at Christmas when you don't dare board a plane for fear of being banned from re-entry.

The old Irish songs used to commemorate the people who couldn't return to Ireland because the journey was too arduous. It's just as arduous now, even though it's only a five-hour plane ride.

There has to be a sensible way out of this. I hope so, because I don't think I can spend another 12 months living in the shadows.

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