Five representatives of Irish immigration reform advocacy groups were invited to two high level White House meetings on August 11 and 12. Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley attended.
The first meeting included a wide representation of European and Mediterranean ethnic groups at which these groups presented their various priorities for immigration reform.
The group agreed to plan an initiative to work with the Obama administration to present these priorities at grass roots meetings around the country.
The Irish immigration advocates spoke in favor of long term legalization objectives and the creation of adequate future flow opportunities for Irish immigrants through a targeted E-3 visa for the Irish.
Representing the administration at the meeting were White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecelia Muñoz and Office of Public Engagement staffers Kyle Lierman and Stephanie Valencia.
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Representing the Irish community were Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, Ned McGinley and Dan Dennehy of the AOH, Stella O’Leary of Irish American Democrats, and former Congressman Bruce Morrison.
The following day, the same Irish group met with representatives of the White House Domestic Policy Council (Felicia Escobar) and of the Department of Homeland Security (Brandon Prelogar).
The agenda focused on Irish immigration issues. The administration committed to a continuing dialog to advance community objectives on creating legal future flows in which those already in the U.S. and those in Ireland could participate.
This included seeking support for the targeted Irish E-3 visa.
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.GeorgeDillon | Aug 19, 2011, 04:06 AM EDT
Where's the logic here? Floods of immigrants are arriving in Ireland every week, swamping the economy and its social services. Meanwhile Irish lobbyists want us to give them special treatment as regards settling here in the US. They gotta be joking! They need to go home and take care of their own country.
peterson | Aug 18, 2011, 02:40 PM EDT
The Tea Party is only against the illegal immigration coming across the border from Mexico. This is reported to be costing the U.S. Billions of dollars as they get free medical care and and loads of public assistance and on top of that they are allowed to VOTE. That why the Democrats allow them to come in and want to grant amnesty and citizenship to the 20 million already in the U.S. Google AZ borders.com for much honest info.
allentown | Aug 18, 2011, 11:41 AM EDT
Am I right that it was Ted Kennedy who stopped the opportunity for the Irish to immigrate to the USA?
CitizenWhy | Aug 18, 2011, 11:29 AM EDT
There will be no immigration reform in the USA. The tea Party has vetoo rights ove any such legislation.