Senator Charles Schumer unveils new Irish visa bill

Butt-kissing again, again and again from politicians who get bribes and want to keep their powerful, controlling job.

Why not sell Ireland to the Americans, to become the 51st. state of the union. Then we could transfer our IMF/ECB/EU debts to them, and there would be no a la carte neutrality problem re. Shannon, etc. It would also solve partition since we all loves the Yanks anyway. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands. One nations under God, with liberty and justice for all".

joycean-Should ALWAYS be a state function when the state has to pay hospital,medical education costs.Illegal immigration costs are literally bankrupting states-part of the argument b4 the Supreme Court.Watch for it.

Murph, Admittedly, it won't result in a death sentence, but you can get several years in jail and deportation, and it can make it impossible for you to ever return legally.Irishcoffeekid talks about the lifestyle illegals lead.Arizona has its own laws, while the federal government argues that immigration is federal function, not a state authority.

Serious offenses in both countries ... bull! The Supreme Court has to rule on whether our treatment of ILLEGAL immigrants is fair (Arizona).We actually have sanctuary cities!

Irishcoffeekid: What made you want to come to this country so much that you would apply for 7 years? This must have been while Ireland was doing well economically.

Irishcoffeekid, Excellent points. The same points have been made by legal hispanic immigranrs. Jumping lines is not going to win you friends among people who have been waiting. I also want to point out that there is a UTube video of an American who overstayed his visa in Ireland and was jailed and deported, and given a letter telling him not to return. These are serious offenses in both countries.

so this makes no sense really. there are 10,000 a year eligible if it passes - there are significantly more UNDOCUMENTED irish in the USA than this would even remotely cover so are they seriously expecting people living under the radar of the Immigration office to come forward on a "chance" that they might successfully qualify because if they don't get it, they're out on their ear because the US Immigration office will have discovered them during the application process. Seriously this is going to make it worse rather than better because the agitation of those in Ireland wishing to apply will increase if they see people breaking the law for years in the USA by overstaying their visas getting it over them trying to do it legally!! Needs a total rework if you ask me!

If Schumer was around when my greatgrandfather immigrated, I would be speaking with a brogue right now. Instead, I must speak Spanish in order to teach in California.

This is particularly unlikely once we add 40,000 to 1.5 million returning soldiers to the unemployed in the next few weeks and months.

Fast Eddy you are so right but Schumer & Durbin were never ones to pat themselves on the back much! Ha!

The bill is not likely to come up for a vote in the Senate until it goes through Senate Judiciary Committee, if it ever does.

Just an extension of previously "authorized quota" from past decades ... Nothing new here, move along, move along ...