Another lonely Christmas for illegal Irish trapped in the United States

You know I am tired listening about the 'lonely irish kids', blah blah blah. I came to the US from Ireland in '87 and there were thousands of illegal irish kids over here and you know there was no whining. Toughen up!! And Ciaradexy..yes it is the greatest country ever!!!

My Grandparents came from Ireland and Scotland. I remember the story of how my Grandfather was in the United States (sponsored by his older brother) for several years before he could sponsor my Grandmother to come. My feelings are that if they did it legally, then why should we sympathize with those who chose the illegal route now. The economy is bad all over the world. There are many people that I know that need jobs that are taken by those who have entered the country illegally and hurt US economy by not paying payroll taxes. Though I sympatize with their plight, the reality of their status will catch up with them eventually. The current US administration (and those that follow) need to stop ignoring this issue and do something about enforcing immigration laws now and solve the problem of those illegals who are currently here.

There are so many legal Irish immigrants spending every Christmas in the US for many, many years. The cost of airfare and the lack of time off just makes it a reality for many of us...and we just make the best of it.

I came here legally, but the US immigration laws are badly broken, and not likely to be fixed anytime soon. I had to get a green card, although at the time I only intended to stay a couple of years (20 years ago!), and could easily have done that on a visa, because my wife also worked full-time at that time, and she could not get a work visa atall. Me getting a green card was the only way she could legally work, and if we had to give up her income, we weren't going to move here atall. The immigration laws are still to this day based on the 'little woman' staying in the kitchen. Why do feminists have nothing to say about that? The US immigration laws are based on two concepts: (1) family reunification, which guarantees an advantage to whatever ethnic groups came in recently; and (2) letting only highly qualified people get in by any other route, which guarantees that low paid jobs with a labour shortage will be filled by illegals, and yet people are still surprised that they come illegally, when the unskilled haven't a hope of getting in legally (except see (1) above), and employers actually need them.

Don't mind George, he is just one of those blo hearts who thinks he has all the answers in life because he has feelings. See them all the time on the blogosphere, hiding behind their veiled curtain.

"Legal"/"illegal" is not a distinction that economic refugees or political refugees usually have in mind when they enter a country. It's a description that Americans apply to label some "undesirable." The 'insular' anti-immigration folks are in a dither because they do not usually consider Irish immigrants "undesirable," but they do consider Mexican border-crossers "undesirable." They'd rather the Mexicans get bussed across the border to do their low-paid agricultural work by day and then bussed back home each night. But illegal Irish can't just drop in for day work. They're "trapped," as the headline says. The US conservatives need to hang on to that "legal"/ "illegal" distinction, however, and in economic hard times, they revert to full-throttle "America for Americans." This attitude is the Scrooge story of American capitalism for all to see. Happy Holidays indeed!

They're not trapped. They can leave America anytime they want.

As to the conservatives, I say the practices, policies and laws of the US have favored the immigration of darker skinned people for fifty years now, mostly (but not always) for their low cost and convenience of businesses and more well off Anglos. By practice, I include the practice of allowing illegal border crossing, which has been rampant until recent years. To the liberals that always took up for these illegals,I say there was never any expression extended to the idea of allowing similar improverished eastern Europeans that would have loved to enter the country after the wall fell. We should end our racially and ethnically discriminatory immigration practices and laws and encourage European immigration to make up for past sins. Personally, I'd like to see all work restrictions eased up between the Western countries. After WWII, I think the Europeans thought their business and culture would be swallowed up by the US, but this was just a temporary condition until they got back on their feet. As a very insular country, the US could certainly learn different points of view from Irish or other Europeans working here. And there are now bigger fish in the sea for all to contend with.

Mr. george Dillon, I will excuse your rude behavior and point out that the argument is that all nations have a right to control their borders and most nations have a lawful and legitimate process for gaining citizenship. The US and Ireland are included. It is not fair for a publication dedicated to Irish affairs to garner sympathy for undocumented Irish persons in the US when Ireland has the same rules which they do enforce. Merry Christmas to you and your family

This was not the blog to drop in on for a bit of holiday-season hospitality, that's for sure. With GD on his usual rant and more anti-immigration folks shouting that there's no room for strangers at the Inn, I'd rather be camping out in some manger tonight anyway, with the sheep and cows for company.

I do not feel sorry for these people because they are breaking the law and they are taking jobs away from legal Americans. I came to the US legally and my son was born here. He has not worked for 3 years but illegal immigrants say they can't give up their jobs here because they would not find jobs in Ireland. It is not just Irish illegals that we have to deal with the mexicans come illegally in droves taking jobs that Americans would be glad to have. Illegal immigrants should be deported to their home countries where they can apply for legal entry into the United States.

Belcarra, greatest country ever? Seriously? Youve never travelled obviously!

i have yet to hear an irish illegal alien say thank you america for allowing me to work in the greatest country ever. you know where to find sympathy in the dictionary.

Illegals are criminals by definition. I don't feel sorry for criminals. They came because they wanted to. All they need do is turn themselves in and they get to go home to stay. Problem solved.

That's a winning personality you have georgedillon. Now turn yourself in and promise Nurse Ratchett you'll never attempt to escape again.

My heart does not bleed for illegal alians. You can go back to Ireland and find jobs there and bolster up your own economy and leave the jobs here for people of this land. We open our doors to so many but no one has to stay here. Something must be good here like the $$$ perhaps?

antoman aka sirpeter, actually nothing a racist imbecile like you could say would annoy me. For someone to annoy me I'd have to respect them first, and I sure don't respect bigoted ignoramuses like you!

If it annoys georgedillon and other racists and xenophobes on this site that there are Irish in America. Legal or illegal. Stay there lads. We'll deploy 10,000 more come the new year.

This is a big sob story. They got on a plane in their early 20's and didn't give a dam about visas etc when they could have gone legally to Canada or Auz not to mention going to London.

My father came here legally, and all 4 of my husband's did as well. If you feel trapped, you have the key to your cage-a ticket home. Please use it and don't take jobs from Americans who need them.

I feel badly for those who are trapped here, but am curious how they manage to get work when they are not legal. If they are all being paid off the books how about the poor people here who are legal and could fill the jobs that these people are holding. My parents and other family members came legally many years ago. Something is wrong with our system.

I get very tired listening to Irish people bellyache. They should not have come here illegally, they broke the law. I, with my husband and daughter waited for 5 years in Ireland for my Green Card before moving here. That is how it should be done. Sorry if you miss your families and ailing parents, but if you feel that badly, then just go back. I would have no hesitation doing so if I were in the situation, especially when it came to ailing parents. One other thing, Irish people are not very considerate when it comes to so called "undocumented" in their country. I have heard some very nasty things said in this regard. Merry Christmas and Peace to all mankind.

My father AND my husband both immigrated to the US legally so I cannot say I am against immigration. With that said, illegal aliens are breaking United States law; regardless of their country of origin. If these folks miss their families so much then they should return to Ireland. Then if they decide to live in America, they can start the legal process in Ireland.

Wow you people are spot on. If they are illegal, they should be deported. Along with every other illegal. Shane says there is no work in Ireland. Well we have an unemployment problem here, so he is taking a job that an American would do.

If they are illegal then they should be deported just like the illegals here in Ireland should be deported.

How about a story about the Nigerian mothers and Romanian women that Ireland is is so fond of shipping back to the 3rd world countries they are claiming sanctuary from.

butlereport you could not be more wrong.Irish don't have sanctuary cities,an entire political party supporting them for votes of their peers,don't have liberal idealists who have forgotten and denied our Constitution!Some illegals are getting better schooling than natural Americans.WAKE UP AMERICA

They are not "trapped" - they can turn themselves in and be deported back to Ireland at no cost to them. They CHOSE to be "trapped" here by becoming ILLEGAL aliens, not "undocumented workers." No sympathy from me.

The same can be said for people living across country from family because of jobs. Christmas is not a vacation time for many and if you are lucky you get one day off even though because Christmas falls on a Sunday, Monday is a holiday.

'Trapped?' So leave. You have the same illegal status here as any other illegal - none. And you knew the consequences when you came.