Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

OBAMA COMMITTMENT TO "PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP" GIVES CAUSE FOR CAUTIOUS OPTIMISIM TO US UNDOCUMENTED IRISH IMMIGRANTS

Published: 17 August, 2009

Newry and Mourne Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has said that he shared the cautious optimism of many at the recent statement made by US President Obama to an audience in Mexico, that he would provide "a pathway to citizenship" for illegal immigrants. "Since Presidents address, I have spoken to quite a few undocumented Irish living in America and their families living here in the Newry and Armagh areas and there is an anticipation that before the year is out there will be be draft legislation ready to be moved forward" said the Sinn Féin elected representative who has had a lengthy involvement in highlighting the plight of approximately 50,000 undocumented Irish, many from this local area, and has visited the USA where he has met senior elected representatives and officials working within Irish grassroots organisations such as the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR), who since 2005 have spearheaded the campaign to provide an Irish voice in the national immigration debate. "We are all working together to achieve the key objectives of obtaining a path to legal status for the undocumented Irish in the U.S., and a path to legal status for future Irish immigrants" said Pat who acknowledged that whilst accurate numbers were notoriously difficult to come by but Irish immigration centres in the US had indicated that the number of Irish immigrants has been steadily rising amid the downturn in the economy here at home. "That is reflected in the growing number of contacts that have been made to myself and others by families here at home looking for updates on how the issue is progressing, and information as to how they can help with the campaign to highlight the plight of their relatives who cannot get home to their families in Ireland as they are deemed "criminals" by the US administration due to their undocumented status". In conclusion the Newry and Mourne Councillor appealed for a unified approach in the pursuit of immigration reform for the Undocumented. "This is an issue that impacts on families from all traditions and backgrounds. We need to continue to highlight the harrowing plight of the impact of being classed as Undocumented, and work to securing legal status for them. We also have to ensure now more than ever that future irish immigrants to the USA will not have to live with the label of "illegal" and consequences involved with that status.