Ring hopes for progress on undocumented Irish

Ring hopes for progress on undocumented Irish


Anton McNulty

PROGRESS needs to be made on improving the legal status of the undocumented Irish in the New Year according to Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring, who he said were facing another lonely Christmas and New Year season.
There is an estimated 10,000 undocumented Irish emigrants living in the United States and despite lobbying by prominent politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, no deal has been made to legalise their status. Many of these undocumented Irish have settled in the United States and as a result they are unable to return home in the fear of being detained by immigration officials and deported.
The Legalise the Irish campaign has been vocal in its calls for comprehensive immigration reform but their campaign was dealt a blow this year with the death of Senator Edward Kennedy who was one of their strongest and most influential supporters.
Deputy Michael Ring who has campaigned on behalf of the many emigrants from Mayo who are unable to return home said that he hoped progress can be made on the matter in the coming year.
“My heart goes out to the Irish people in the US whose future is still uncertain and who cannot visit their families for fear they will not be able to return to the States.  Many of them have not seen their families for years and have had to miss important family occasions like weddings and funerals.  It is a great disappointment that another Christmas has come to pass where their situation is still not regularised even though they have made their homes in America, raised families and make their contribution to the economy.
“I sincerely hope that the immigration reform group established by President Obama in the summer can make a real breakthrough in the New Year.  There have been some very encouraging signs this year and I hope that they will come to fruition early in 2010. 
That said the Irish Government must not take anything for granted and must continue to deploy every diplomatic effort it can to keep this issue high on the agenda,” he said.