45 Comments

• stephen1553 | Feb 06, 2012, 12:40 AM EST

  I one looks at the repubs in general, they'll see that they almosst violently dislike immigration. Thats strange, since Repubs support big business who like immigrants because they can pay them lower wages............the only answer is the repubs always need an "enemy to bash", its part of their culture of creating fear and yes hate.....................Irish people are just their latest victim.........Remember - Catholics people were often the victims of discrimination. the repubs political base is the evangelical xtians, who gave us slavery, the KKK, and segregation. whose nightmare has come true in our first black President.................To bad there isnt a large fertile deserted Island named Austraiiia II..........Get those people away from Faux news and maybe in a generation they will become good people, as have the Australians, a wonderful country / people.

• SeamusMartin | Feb 03, 2012, 02:02 PM EST

  I know of Mr. Grassley. He is, in my opinion, on of the few honest congressmen in the Senate. However he is (how they say) Iowa stubborn, but not unreasonable. It'll be worked out. I'm sure of that! Slan.

• joycean | Feb 03, 2012, 11:42 AM EST

  I agree that this sonds like a very flawed bill. It probably needs to be thrown out and redone.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 03, 2012, 10:06 AM EST

  This is good news. No one who loves Ireland should act to facilitate the emigration of Irish people from Ireland. The solution is for Irish people to go home and change their broken society. Today's Ireland is a disgrace when compared to the dreams of Pearse and Connolly. You do not improve your country by exporting your young people and importing foreign migrants. Or do the Irish think the foreign migrants are better than their own young people?

• rohitsh | Feb 03, 2012, 08:40 AM EST

  You guys just killed H.R.3012. It is so sad, we are living in US for decades now, we are legal, came here legally, employed but can't get green card because lot of people who were born in my country applied. H.R.3012 is to remove that discrimination, it is about fairness. There is no reason why employement based Green cards should have country limits. There is no reason, why my collegue from Egypt should get his green 2 years and I get in 20 years. This is inhuman. But sorry folks you killed our hope. HR3012 should have been left alone, you should have looked for other vehicle. Why kill 3012 ?

• norrobam | Feb 03, 2012, 07:44 AM EST

  As for the high technology aspect providing 10,000 visas is against Irish interests as there is actually a shortage of skilled technical resources for Irish based companies. In fact we could do with offering 3 or 4,000 Visas to get developers, designers etc. into Ireland - for ICT companies

• IrelandNorth | Feb 03, 2012, 05:40 AM EST

  A chara/friend Seanadoir/Senator Grassley! Remember the Irish who built your cities, swelled the ranks of your armed forces, waited your restaurant tables, baby sat your children, nursed your sick, and treated your wounded, and "... pledged allegience to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."

• joan1954 | Feb 03, 2012, 12:36 AM EST

  These comments have been interesting. How many Americans would work in the cotton fields harvesting that crop as well as wheat, corn and sorghum? I can assure you not many. How many would clean homes and take care of children at what constitutes minimum wage? Interesting?

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 08:05 PM EST

  Wouldn't respect either irishgreeneyes or seanmelb if they didn't like their homeland ,but if you are dissing another country without ever being there, doesn't do much for either of you.I have been fortunate to visit Ireland,not Australia which is fifth on my travel itinerary.

• baldydub | Feb 02, 2012, 07:00 PM EST

  typical teabagger obstruction to progress.

• Irishgreeneyes | Feb 02, 2012, 06:57 PM EST

  Murph, I know the Irish are leaving Ireland, but Ireland is far better than America. Seanomelb, Irish should stay in their home country , period. America is nasty and the "outback" is just as bad. Irish women are sick of losing their men to foreign women. The true Irish are dying off.

• Heather911 | Feb 02, 2012, 06:53 PM EST

  Murph46, With Irishgreeneyes' attitude, I would leave Ireland too if I had to be around that. What she doesn't realize is that many Americans have loved the Irish in so many ways. Sure, I am not Irish, I just had a great grandfather who was born to a Scottish Father and an Irish Mother. I am proud to say that I had family who had Irish roots, but people like her are tarnishing the once loved Irish, with her bitterness.

• seanomelb | Feb 02, 2012, 06:52 PM EST

  If the Irish wish to earn some real dollars and the best standard of living in the world and the best economy I might add, Australia needs you. Why work for crumbs in the good old USA.

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 06:42 PM EST

  Irishgreeneyes America ain't losing people Ireland is.Duh! There is obviously upward mobilty as per the number of Presidents with Irish ancestry,but of course you know better!

• Heather911 | Feb 02, 2012, 05:46 PM EST

  I think the entire immigration policies here in the U.S are completely twisted. You have people who come to this country, seeking a better life. If they come and abide by the laws and want to work, then what is the big deal? Those who are wasting space, breaking the laws, selling drugs or whatever, deport them. Welcome those over here who have good intentions. We have a lot of illegals here from other countries, and the U.S Government caters to them, but I bet if you are a citizen or you are here legally, you are on your own.

• Irishgreeneyes | Feb 02, 2012, 05:40 PM EST

  I don't see why an Irish would want to go to America. Seriously, what is there for you over there? Americans are nasty!

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 05:17 PM EST

  Some of the ejits posting here should either read the bill or Mamba11 before dissing Grassley-he is doing the Irish a FAVOR

• Mamba11 | Feb 02, 2012, 05:11 PM EST

  According to Irish Central, last year alone over 70K of Irish immigrated to the U.S. If this Bill becomes a law, it will with have a profound negative impact on Irish who filed or just going to file papers for immigration to the U.S. Since country quotas will be eliminated or increased, movement in both employment and family based categories will slow down SIGNIFICANTLY for Irish and most other national in favor of Indians, Chinese, Mexicans and Filipinos. Provisions for providing amnesty for undocumented Irish in the U.S. (which was a big part of this Bill) are not there anymore. So what Irish are lobbying for? Clearly, for Irish there will be more looser that winners if this legislation will become a law. It looks like Irish lobby keeps pushing this Bill forward just to save face. It's time to acknowledge that this Bill in it's present form is more harmful than beneficial to Irish. We need some real stuff like visa recapture and not counting dependents against the quota.

• seanomelb | Feb 02, 2012, 04:35 PM EST

  grassley should be put out to pasture.He takes money from corporations who send American jobs overseas the hypocrite.

• DanCinTX | Feb 02, 2012, 03:06 PM EST

  sazbad1 is correct - this bill has little to do with visas for the Irish and everything to do with importing cheap labor from India and China. Sen. Shumer and his ilk answer to the Wall St types that love this type of thing. I also have "... concerns about the impact of this bill on future immigration flows, and am concerned that it does nothing to better protect Americans at home who seek high-skilled jobs during this time of record high unemployment,"

• Rahelian | Feb 02, 2012, 03:04 PM EST

  Ireland falls under ROW, so if HR3012 is passed in current shape, Irish working in U.S and seeking green cards, will have to wait much much longer than what they currently do. I fail to understand what net benefit Ireland will get from lobbying for HR3012 and E3 provision. They will be getting 10,000 non-immigrant visas per year but it will be adding years of wait to their citizens who have applied for immigrant visas. They are much better off with a standalone E3 bill than clubbing it with HR3012.

• Ben1978 | Feb 02, 2012, 02:55 PM EST

  Folks, I am not an Irish. But I am an immigrant in ROW category like many of you. I wonder why you are supporting this bill. I wonder how Indian lobbyists were able to fool your powerful lobbying muscle and use them for their own interest. If this bill passes, yes you will get 10K NON-IMMIGRANT visas but you know in what price? You will need to wait for 10-15 years to get the Green Card (who knows if EB will be available then). You know why? Because Indians and Chinese will sweep all Emplyment-Based visas for Green Card available. This bill is an Indian bill for their interest. They need your support to be able to break the hold put By Sen. Grassley on their own bill (HR 3012). So they fooled your Lobbyists with this 10K visas. What will they give you in exchange is triple times of waiting to become permanent residence. If you want 10K E-3 visas, go and write a separated bill and try to pass it . But don't support HR 3012 (now this bill is used as a vehicle for E-3, so it will be passed , if you try to get the vote for E-3). HR 3012 will eliminate the cap for every nation in EB category which means no one can stand against Indian and Chinese with near 2 billion population. Nearly all EB visas will be assigned to Indians and Chinese for years to come. You will lose your future for a temporary visa!!! Smart Indians!

• sazbad1 | Feb 02, 2012, 02:37 PM EST

  This bill will be a real nightmare for the rest of the world except indians and chinese. Even if irish comes as a working temporary visa they can never turn that temporary visa to an immigrant visa because this bill will remove the country cap. Now an Irish can become an immigrant within 6 years where if this bill passes it will need 15 years. In current immigration system a country gets 7% of total visas allotted to them but this bill will remove that cap which means bigger countries like India and China will use most of them. THIS IS THE FACT OF THIS BILL!! BE AWARE!! So let's be educated. The indians are pushing hard for this bill and we are all blinded by the real impact of HR3012. Please spread the message of the disaster coming with this bill for the rest of the world immigrant community.

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 01:33 PM EST

  cillowen read Mamba11-Grassley is on Irish side ,you just don't care to see it want 15 year wait or 6 ?

• Mamba11 | Feb 02, 2012, 12:44 PM EST

  People, don't be fulled by this Bill! If becomes a law, it will create Temporary NON-IMMIGRANT visas for Irish. But at the same time it will become virtually impossible to get a green card, as this bill significantly increases waiting times for Irish and others by giving away your green card quota to Indians and Chinese. If this Bill becomes a law, they waiting time for Green Card for Irish will be 15 years or more (comparing to 6 years now). Do you really want to be on a temporary visas all your life?

• cillowen | Feb 02, 2012, 12:02 PM EST

  gop'errors irish will not be deterred - tells something of 'em. could be that among those irish emigre types there be the engineering talent to help keep manufacturing jobs stateside. Were the irish to focus on learning chinese it would be a no brainer for Herr Grassley's puny brain.

• cillowen | Feb 02, 2012, 11:54 AM EST

  gop'errors irish will not be deterred - tells something of 'em.

• Nicomax | Feb 02, 2012, 11:54 AM EST

  I thought being Irish was what the GOP really wanted more of in this country since they speak English, have fair skin, eat normal food. Remember in states like Arizona, it's not whether Mexicans have the proper papers or not, it's they themselves they wish were not there.

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 11:39 AM EST

  Perfesser-you are so right our current President promised immigration reform but has done nothing because he doesn't want to lose 12 million votes!I rest my case!

• Mamba11 | Feb 02, 2012, 11:35 AM EST

  Passing this bill will help a little bit to Indians and Chinese, but it will create a huge retrogression for all other countries (including Ireland) in EB3 category. The current waiting time (6 years as of now) will increase to 15 years if this Bill becomes a law, because most visas will be consumed by Indians and Chinese. Is this what we want? How about hundreds of thousands of people who have are already stuck in this retrogression waiting for their turn (including Irish)?

• TheOldPerfessor | Feb 02, 2012, 11:28 AM EST

  There are millions of illegal aliens here because rich white people lure them over to avoid paying Americans a decent wage. In Arizona the law states that hiring them knowingly is illegal, but nobody has any interest in arresting the people that caused the problem in the first place. They are campaign contributors.

• rainbowbrew | Feb 02, 2012, 11:23 AM EST

  American GOP = obstructionists par excellence. They are becoming quite the laughing stock of the world. Why is it the governments responsibility to gropw the economy, heck I thought that was teh millionaires job you know trickle down? The capitalistic system should be growing jobs, the more government jobs the less taxes we have as they are taken by the government employees.

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 11:18 AM EST

  You know belcara i sit in wonderment at these posters are we to just open our doors we already have 12 freakin million illegals,now because they are Irish the rules are supposed to change,hell my great grandfather came over here legally went through Ellis Island was told there were jobs available -but Irish need not apply.So I understand ,but don,t for god's sake dis a senator for doing his job!

• belcarra | Feb 02, 2012, 11:01 AM EST

  IS MURPH46 THE ONLY ONE WITH A BRAIN. YOU GUYS ARE EITHER STUPID OR YOU HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM A NIGHT OF DRINKING. IF YOU CHECKED GRASSLEY RECORD YOU WOULD NOT MAKE THOSE STATMENTS..WITH OVER 9% UNEMPLOYMENT HOW CAN YOU POSSABLY ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THE WORKFORCE. LET'S TAKE CARE OF AMERICAN'S FIRST.

• tg32159 | Feb 02, 2012, 10:54 AM EST

  It is the responsibility of every elected American Legislator to represent the Americans who put them in office. I am an American of Irish decent and am very fond of Ireland and her people. Much of what this country has today is by virtue of the blood, sweat and tears of Irish immigrants. Their contributions to the building of this great nation are incalculable. However, it was a sympatico relationship - the country needed laborers and the Irish needed jobs. Such is not the case today. The United States has an unemployment rate over 8% with a real unemployment rate closer to 18%. The jobs that are available are scarce due to the inability of the current administration in Washington to grow the economy. It is economic growth that will create jobs not government interference and social engineering. It was not that long ago that the Irish economy was the envy of Europe. There were high paying tech jobs with large innovative companies. I remember a time when I couldn't find a memory chip that didn't have the "Made in Ireland" stamp on it. What happened? Where did it all go so wrong? Is it now the responsibility of the United States to subsidize the Irish job market? Sorry, we've got to get our own house in order before we can start taking care of someone elses. It's bad enough that we have to contend with the over 15 million illegals. It's time to put a moratorium on the whole thing.

• rhunter67 | Feb 02, 2012, 10:48 AM EST

  This is pretty reprehensible that this actually encourages hi tech workers from Mexico, where the only thing high tech are their drug smuggling routes as opposed to educated Irish who are fluent in English. It's a 'what have you done for me lately' type of thing.

• rhunter67 | Feb 02, 2012, 10:36 AM EST

  The Irish have to wait just like everyone else. Is Ireland this concerned about immigrants to Ireland?

• hollabackgurl | Feb 02, 2012, 10:31 AM EST

  For decades all of America's biggest corporations have swollen their bank accounts by exploiting Ireland's corporate tax rates - so it's quite right of the Irish to expect something in return. The Republicans need to step out of the way.

• dickmac | Feb 02, 2012, 10:09 AM EST

  Senator Grassley's opposition are insulting to all the Irish in this Country. The Irish contributions through the years speaks for itself. To deny totally against us is not acceptable. Treat us equally !

• Murph46 | Feb 02, 2012, 10:04 AM EST

  If you antagonists read the story,he has worked with Durbin in the past on this bill but is first of all trying to protect American jobs-that is his job!Bill as sponsored could conceivably take away jobs from American constituents ,plain and simple.

• donal1951 | Feb 02, 2012, 10:02 AM EST

  I am Irish, but have dual US citizenship. I can, however, speak to the necessity of the work visas in the medical profession. We have a serious shortage of primary care and some specialty doctors in rural areas and poorer urban areas. My feeling is if a physician is willing to practice in those areas, with a guaranteed income, for example salaried by one of the hospitals, they should be welcomed if they speak English. This of course would include Irish and Indian docs. We also are short of some high tech workers, and again, Ireland and India provide good training and their graduates should be considered for expedited work visas.

• brennanirish | Feb 02, 2012, 09:41 AM EST

  Senator Grassley Info.......If your interested. 135 Hart Senate Office Building (202) 224-3744; 224-6020 Des Moines: (515) 288-1145

• seagreen | Feb 02, 2012, 09:38 AM EST

  This is the same guy that after his constituents (Iowa farmers)received government subsidy's to grow their wheat, refused to ship their grain on American ships, because it cost 20 cents more per ton than on a Russian vessel. he is also a self described patriot

• TheOldPerfessor | Feb 02, 2012, 09:27 AM EST

  The Republicans are just acting out their God-given duty to make lives worse for decent working people.

• hollabackgurl | Feb 02, 2012, 09:01 AM EST

  It's groundhog day and another Republican senator is trying to kill another Irish immigration bill. Even in an election year when all they've got to run is a robotic Ken Doll who enjoys firing people and isn't concerned about the very poor. We need to be speed dialing Senator Grassley's office starting at 9AM today. It's time the Irish got fair tretment, even from the GOP.