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Another lonely Christmas for illegal Irish trapped in the United States

Undocumented forced to be separated from family for the holidays

APRIL DREW,

Irish Voice Reporter

Published Sunday, December 18, 2011, 7:13 AM

Updated Sunday, December 18, 2011, 7:48 AM

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Thousands of undocumented Irish face a lonely Christmas without family.

Photo by Google Images

Thousands of Irish undocumented living in New York face another lonely Christmas without family.

As they prepare to make the most of Christmas in New York, several undocumented living in Yonkers and Woodlawn in the Bronx spoke to the Irish Voice about the sadness associated with being away from family this time of the year.

Because all those interviewed are undocumented, names have been changed for the purpose of this article.

Louise, 38, and her 40-year-old husband Shane are about to spend their eighth Christmas away from their family back in Co. Donegal.

“Another Christmas away is just terrible,” Louise, a bartender, shared with the Irish Voice over the weekend.

“It’s getting harder all the time. Our parents are getting old and we’re missing so many special events like another Christmas, not to mention several weddings and christenings.”

Her husband Shane agrees, but says being realistic they can’t move home at the moment because “there is no work” in Ireland.

“The Irish government is doing a good job of keeping the young people out of Ireland,” said Shane, a construction worker.

Veronica, 30, and her husband of three years Martin, 31, are both from Co. Kerry. They have two American-born children. They are also about to spend their eighth Christmas in New York.

“We haven’t been home in eight years and it’s very hard being away from family all the time but especially at Christmas, and of course it’s very hard for them not having us at home either,” shared Veronica, who cares for the elderly.

“Christmas is all about family, everyone meeting and spending time together.”

Martin, who owns his own construction firm, said, “We’ll never get back the years we have missed with family, but hope to be home some day. Our kids have never seen Ireland so we can’t wait for the day to bring them back to meet grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.”

A visitor from Ireland this Christmas will ease the pain a little, though, for this Kerry family.

“This year my mom comes for Christmas. It’s our first Christmas together in eight years so we are very excited Nana is coming to New York,” said Veronica.

Tara, 37, is from Co. Sligo. She has been living in New York for 12 years and hasn’t set foot on Irish soil in seven.

Like those previously interviewed, Tara associates Christmas with spending quality time with family.

“Christmas away from home has become an event to dread here in New York, a non-event and one that I sadly hope will be over and done with as soon as possible,” said Tara, an office worker.

This, however, is Tara’s final Christmas without family.

“I'm planning to move back to Ireland in the next year unless a miracle of a green card arrives from Santa Claus, and at this stage it’s not looking like it but I can always live in hope,” she said.

This year for Tara will be extra difficult. Her mother had major surgery only seven weeks ago and she is devastated that she can’t be there to help her recover.
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beodonne | Jan 11, 2012, 05:03 PM EST

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!!!

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JudyStinger | Dec 27, 2011, 12:32 PM EST

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.

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power317 | Dec 21, 2011, 04:40 PM EST

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.

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AlunPalmer | Dec 19, 2011, 08:18 PM EST

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.

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whatISinAname | Dec 19, 2011, 01:09 PM EST

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.

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eiriamach | Dec 19, 2011, 10:01 AM EST

"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!

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bogsidebunny | Dec 19, 2011, 12:28 AM EST

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

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bonjouryall | Dec 18, 2011, 08:21 PM EST

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.

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wyalusingjohn | Dec 18, 2011, 05:38 PM EST

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

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eiriamach | Dec 18, 2011, 05:35 PM EST

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.

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MegK311 | Dec 18, 2011, 03:14 PM EST

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.

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ciaradexy | Dec 18, 2011, 03:14 PM EST

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

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belcarra | Dec 18, 2011, 02:57 PM EST

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.

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OleSarge | Dec 18, 2011, 02:53 PM EST

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.

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antoman | Dec 18, 2011, 02:18 PM EST

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

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