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Immigration reform for Irish American community - current bill must be passed

Immigration reform is hitting a critical stage for the Irish American community

By
Irish Voice Editorial,
Published Friday, January 13, 2012, 7:48 AM
Updated Friday, January 13, 2012, 10:23 AM

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Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Charles Schumer
Photo by AP


The battle for immigration reform is hitting a critical stage for the Irish American community early in 2012.

Last week President Obama announced new rules that will likely allow undocumented who marry citizens to stay in America while being processed -- a huge step.
 
That is a significant because shortly before Christmas, the Hispanic, Indian and Chinese lobby had a bill sail through the House that allowed more green cards for applicants from their countries.
 
Obama understands the importance in an election year of reaching out to Hispanics and other ethnic groups. We need to remind the president that the Irish have a dog in this fight too.
 
Given the economic plight in Ireland and the continuing stream of emigration here, we need to get a bill passed similar to what the Morrison and Donnelly visa bills did in the 1980s.

___________

Read More:

America's losing out to Canada, Australia on luring ambitious Irish people

Charles Schumer’s Irish visa bill is a key starting point

Irish in New York react cautiously to new visa bill

___________

The bill we need passed in the Senate is S1983. Though the Irish were left out of the aforementioned House bill, but have responded with the S1983 bill of their own pushed by Senator Charles Schumer which would add an E3 visa dimension, allowing 10,000 Irish a year to come here and work while renewing the non-immigrant visa every two years.
 
The Schumer bill would possibly also allow undocumented to go back and seek the visas.
 
The bill quickly gathered support and now has 53 senators, all Democrats, on side.
 
Meanwhile, on the Republican side, Senator Scott Brown introduced his own Irish bill which is more restrictive than the Schumer one, while Senator Mark Kirk pledged support.
 
Any bill in the Senate needs 60 votes to avid a filibuster, so the bill is seven votes short.
 
These can only come from the Republican side, and there are several obvious candidates.
 
The 15 names that the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform has come up with are as follows:
 
Kentucky: Senator Mitch McConnell: 202-224-2541
Maine: Senator Susan Collins: 202-224-2523
Maine: Senator Olympia Snowe: 202-224-5344
Alaska: Senator Murkowski: 202-224-666
Indiana: Senator Lugar: 202-224-4814
Arizona: Senator John McCain: 202-224-2235     
South Carolina: Senator Lindsey Graham: 202-224- 5972           
Ohio: Senator Rob Portman: 202-224-3353
Florida: Senator Marco Rubio: 202-224-3041           
Massachusetts: Senator Scott Brown: 202-224-4543
Pennsylvania: Senator Pat Toomey: 202-224-4254 
Illinois: Senator Mark Kirk: 202-224-2854
New Hampshire: Senator Kelly Ayotte: 202-224-3324
Iowa: Senator Chuck Grassley: 202-224-3744     
Texas: Senator John Cornyn: 202-224-2934
 
Those are the key figures who may determine whether the S1983 bill or a version of it can pass the Senate and go to the House.
 
Any Irish American who feels strongly on this issue, especially those living in those states, should get on the phone, fax or e-mail.
 
The message is very simple -- pass S1983 and give the Irish back access to the U.S., which has been almost totally denied them since 1965.

​
See more: Irish immigration , US Politics
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15 Comments

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Mickwall | Jan 18, 2012, 10:31 AM EST
My previous point: "Make it a realistic investment for regular people and we will soon see the results." I draw emphasis to the word "realistic" and an investment of $500,000 (mentioned by joycean) is not realistic for the average person. Businesses can be created for far less - just a few thousand in many instances - and these can create many jobs. Talented immigrants would get much help in starting businesses. Historically the Irish have done this and history can be repeated.

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GeorgeDillon | Jan 15, 2012, 10:15 AM EST
Well said, rpmschevy. I don't know how many Irish immigrants, some of them illegal aliens, I have heard here in the US badmouthing this country. We don't need any more Irish loudmouths, the Irish talk a big game but they always run away from problems or go crazy on booze. Right now they're running away from their own country. I guess it figures too that they are thinking of honoring guys who deserted from the Irish Army.

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rpmschevy | Jan 14, 2012, 09:59 PM EST
We have 9 percent unemployment and already 20 million ILLEGALs in this country but these guys need to continue to insult American citizens. Congress enacts laws treating citizens as criminals.

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Curitiba | Jan 14, 2012, 06:24 PM EST
Not the Commonwealth,WoundedKnee. That consists of most of the ex-colonies of Britain, most of which are desperately poor places in Africa and Asia. No, I'm talking about the 6 first world English speaking countries I mentioned earlier. What would you rather, a customs union with Mexico or us?

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luxefaire | Jan 14, 2012, 12:49 PM EST
well most certainly the term -- dog in this fight -- does not apply and is rather offensive to be quite blunt; michael vick has cast his shadow here...anyway, the economy has become like a game of musical chairs, with the young being made to move about in search of careers and livelihood and better paper money sources...just as in the game of musical chairs the music is slowing and soon, it will stop. most people will be left without a chair. oh well. its a program and a cycle, a duping, if you will. and btw, the nationalism propounded here is a little ugly too, especially considering the fact that it is a kind of international nationalism, or perhaps an immigrations nationalism...maybe, like many, Ireland is too dependent on europe and even america, and should foster new industries from the ground up, the corporations and their legal matrix and their supporters be damned. go black for commerce at all costs.

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WoundedKnee | Jan 14, 2012, 09:43 AM EST
Curitiba--Do you mean join the British Commonwealth?

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Curitiba | Jan 14, 2012, 03:30 AM EST
That's what I'm saying, Dan- pull out of the EU and join up with the rest of the English-speaking world, countries whose economies are real and not based on welfare, borrowing and corruption like the majority of the EU countries. How is having an economic union with Poland and Portugal more beneficial than having one with New South Wales and Massachusetts?

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DanOLoingsigh | Jan 13, 2012, 06:58 PM EST
Curitiba - There is already a no-visa customs union called the EU. UK and Ireland also had effectively a common currency = parity between pounds and punts, until Ireland opted out of this in favour of the Euro. EU rules would preclude the union you suggest, although future EU and Euro problems make this an interesting alternative.

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Curitiba | Jan 13, 2012, 05:20 PM EST
There should be NO borders between English-speaking countries. Instead of the European Union, we should have a no-visa customs union between the UK and Ireland (who already have a no-passport arrangement), the USA, Canada, Australia, and NZ. Any borders between these countries is completely artificial and pointless as they share a common Northern European heritage.

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Pittsburghkid | Jan 13, 2012, 04:17 PM EST
This exclusion of Irish Immigration, and European Immigration is Racist. The Democrats want to divide America up into Racial groups, and flood the country with Non Whites.

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joycean | Jan 13, 2012, 04:16 PM EST
Mick, This bill IS about a special break for undocumented Irish.

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joycean | Jan 13, 2012, 03:35 PM EST
Mickwall, There are visas available for people who are willing to invest money. I think itis $500,000.

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Mickwall | Jan 13, 2012, 11:37 AM EST
The point has been well made that Irish people are not looking for special breaks but just equality with others. What's so special about the Irish? Well historically they have been leading entrepreneurs in the USA who came here and created many jobs. Surely we need that right now. What about visas for those willing to come to the USA and start small businesses. Make it a realistic investment for regular people and we will soon see the results.

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Murph46 | Jan 13, 2012, 09:41 AM EST
Well said WoundedKnee -I think the essence of O'Bamas immigration reform certainly lies elsewhere!

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WoundedKnee | Jan 13, 2012, 08:18 AM EST
We shouldn't give the Irish any special breaks. What's so special about the Irish? And we're not doing Ireland any favors by encouraging young Irish people to leave their homeland. Other posters here have pointed out how the Irish are in danger of giving away the store in the sense of leaving their country to be taken over by foreigners. No Irish American should collaborate with that. We should NOT support any special deals for Irish immigration to the USA.

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