As the song goes, "it will be lonely this Christmas," and it certainly rings true this holiday season for thousands of Irish undocumented across the U.S. who will spend yet another holiday away from family and friends because they don't have the correct documentation to return after the New Year.

Always toying with the idea of "taking the chance" and spending the most important time of the year at home with family, many Irish undocumented, some who are here close to 20 years, spend weeks coming up to the Christmas period making what could be a life changing decision.

Sean, 36, from Co. Leitrim, said up to a month ago he was "going home this Christmas." He hasn't spent a Christmas on Irish soil since 2000.

"My father had a heart attack six weeks ago and I really should be there, but if I leave that will be it for me," he said.

Sean, a carpenter by trade, has been living in New York since 1994. "I was always back and forth before September 11, but it's too risky now," he said.

Sean has a four-year-old daughter with a former girlfriend. "Although she (his daughter) will spend Christmas with her mother, the idea of going home and maybe never seeing her again is just too hard," he said sadly.

Christmas in Leitrim has many happy memories for Sean, who has five sisters and three brothers.

"All of the others in the family will be there with my dad (his mother died 10 years ago) except me and it's killing me, it really is, but what can I do?" he asked sadly.

"It's a choice between seeing my father and possibly never seeing my daughter again."

Sean plans to meet up with fellow Leitrim friends in the Bronx for Christmas dinner, but before that he plans to attend 10 a.m. Mass and pray for his father and "some sort of visa in the New Year."

Deirdre, an immigrant from Dublin and who has been living in Queens for 11 years is also undocumented. She told the Irish Voice she hasn't spent a Christmas in Ireland in seven years.

"It's hard being away from family at times like Christmas because it's such a family oriented holiday and that's when we'd normally be together," she says.

Deirdre has in the past had family visit from Dublin to celebrate the holiday with her and her husband.

"That has been great but I am definitely looking forward to the day I get to spend a Christmas at home," she says.

For Deirdre, the hardest part is missing the opportunity to see everyone and meet up with friends and family mostly.

"My favorite part of Christmas is catching up with everyone because all my friends are scattered all over the world now, so it's the one time of the year that they're all in Ireland, except me."

This year, Deirdre and her husband will celebrate Christmas in their home for the first time ever.

"Some friends - our New York family - are coming over and we're going to cook the turkey and ham and all the trimmings and it's going to be brilliant," she said. "I'm really looking forward to it. We have the Christmas tree up and all the Christmas cards, making it look lovely and Christmassy."

Looking ahead to the New Year, Deirdre is hopeful that President-elect Barack Obama will get the ball rolling on the immigration front.

"With President Obama's election, the country really showed that change is wanted and needed and I'm hopeful that that momentum and feeling will carry over to immigration reform," said Deirdre.

An immigrant from Kildare, Brian has been undocumented for 13 years.

"This will be the 13th Christmas I'm spending in New York," said Brian, a tradesman.

"It really is great when we sometimes have family come and spend Christmas with us, but I think most of all I would just love to finally get to meet my nieces and nephew and be a part of all the Christmas fun and laughter back at home," he said.

Brian said he misses playing cards on Christmas night and going to Leopardstown Races on St. Stephen's Day (December 26).

For Brian, Christmas in Ireland is also a time for "going down to the local pubs to meet family and good friends, as you can't beat the atmosphere at home for a good night out," he shared.

This year it will be another quiet one for Brian. He will spend Christmas day with his wife Irene, their two dogs and they plan to "just chill out this year."

Brian, unlike Deirdre, is not very optimistic about immigration reform happening in the near future.

"Frankly, I don't think anything will be done during Obama's first term as president," he said.

If that is true, Brian said he doesn't plan on waiting around to see if Obama gets elected for a second term.

"Unfortunately, due to the current state of the economy I don't think that immigration reform will be Obama's main priority. Foolish really, because I think that immigration reform would prove to be an ideal way of generating some additional much needed revenue but, hey, who am I to say," he said.

Peter, 29, had his own dilemma. His older brother who he has a very close friendship with is getting married to his fiancZe, also a good friend of Peter's, on New Year's Eve.

"This December will be the toughest year yet away from home," said Peter, whose home is in Co. Kerry.

"My oldest brother will be getting married on New Year's Eve and we have become closer over the years despite the distance. I also went to school with his wife and I worked with her before venturing here, so that makes everything much harder this year."

Peter has been living in Chicago since 2003. "This will be my sixth Christmas away," he said.

Unlike Deirdre and Brian, Peter has never had family visit him for Christmas. Various family members have come to see him sporadically through the years, but never at Christmas.

"Christmas is such a fantastic time at home. It is without question the best time to catch up with all my old school buddies and of course spend more time with my family," he said.

"As each year passes here it gets even harder, and the temptation to hop on a plane gets greater," he said.

However, Peter, who is a bartender, said he will "stick it out" for now and "pray, like everyone else," that his "predicament will be worked out eventually."

Unsure how many more Christmases he is willing to forgo to be here, Peter said "I'm sure I will reach a stage when I will say enough is enough, but for now I'm taking everyday as it comes and hoping."

Peter, like countless other undocumented, is hopeful that Obama will "pass a bill that legalizes" all undocumented.

"Mr. Obama is a supporter of passing a bill that will give people like myself a chance at a path to citizenship so I'm staying positive," he said. "It's my New Year's wish."