Update: Oldest Irish illegal, in US since 1920s, dies one month shy of citizenship
A 90-year-old Irish immigrant to Chicago who was declared illegal in 1999 will finally get her American citizenship in 2013.
Over 88 years since she arrived on an emigrant ship Josephine Stout will finally be able to claim she is a fully-fledged American.
Her amazing story was told in the Chicago Tribune. Records show that Stout was born in a poorhouse in Ireland and that she traveled from there in 1923 on the passenger ship RMS Franconia and that she was aged one and a half.
Back then, landed emigrants were considered resident aliens but Stout’s parents never went through the paperwork for her.
That hardly mattered until 1999 when Stout, after falling on hard times after several family tragedies, applied to have public assistance.
She could not produce evidence of her citizenship other than a social security number and was denied.
Suddenly she was an undocumented immigrant, approaching 70 with seven grandchildren she was raising after her daughter was killed in a robbery.
"What did I know about being from Ireland?" said Stout. "I don't even have an accent. I have always said, 'I am an American, period.'"
She was forced to collect cans as Irish government officials, alerted to the case, tried to find her original birth certificate.
Sister Mary Jane Feil, who headed up a local charity, came to Stout’s assistance when she found out about the elderly woman desperately struggling to raise her daughter’s family
"Josephine would take the bus all over creation trying to get those kids into support groups and whatever care they needed," Feil told the Chicago Tribune.
"She couldn't afford her medicine sometimes. She has no teeth. She needs cataract surgery. She needs hearing aids. Anybody else would be dead by now. But that's Josephine. I think she's only lasted this long out of grit and determination."
"Some of the kids were older, but I still had mouths to feed, so I picked up cans to make money and I worked small jobs," said Stout.
Update: Oldest Irish illegal, in US since 1920s, dies one month shy of citizenship
Another nun, Sister Joellen Tumas, became aware of her case.
"She wasn't one to complain about things, but she was desperate because her gas was about to be shut off and she was fighting eviction," Tumas said.
In 2009, Stout's last surviving child, Rosemary, died of cancer.
Tuma’s charity linked Stout to Chicago Irish Immigrant Support and Executive Director Brendan Magee who alerted the Irish Consulate.
Her birth certificate was found on Oct. 27, 2010 stating she was born in March 1922, in Limerick.
"Her mother gave birth in what was called a poorhouse, a religious-run institution often for women who were destitute," Brendan Magee said.
The documents allowed her to become legal after almost 70 years but she still has to receive an official passport.
"The sisters, and all the others, they did so much," Stout said. "It was a lot of wear and tear, and with the state cutting me off, it was a real struggle. I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I'm glad it's over, but you don't forget."
Now she is part of the senior Irish scene in Chicago.
"I didn't want to go at first," said Stout. "I didn't want to be around a bunch of old fogies. Now I don't want to miss it. I really enjoy the people there. They've taken me to see (the singing group) Celtic Thunder. But I still like the blues, and Jerry Butler."
Soon her American citizenship will arrive, ending an incredible odyssey that began on an emigrant ship in 1923.
17 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.ciaradexy | Dec 29, 2012, 06:47 AM EST
StevenStar, are you using a Speak and Spell to type your posts? Are you in the slow class in school? Whats with the constant capitals and horrific spelling? Stop making a show of us. Its bad enough having idiots like GeorgeDillon aka WoundedKnee posting as Kev408 on the Independent website pretending to be Irish without having you on here making us look uneducated too.
seamusdenais | Dec 28, 2012, 06:39 PM EST
Republican America is going through it's paranoia phase. Anything that stinks of IMMIGRANT must be eradicated. WHITE AMERICA WHICH DESCENDS FROM EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS AS YOU WELL KNOW has no mandate ever to dictate tradition in your country.
mamaginnty | Dec 28, 2012, 10:31 AM EST
That poor woman, no matter whether she came from Mars, she was trying to feed grandchildren, yet no help. Ireland might be having it hard just now, but still a king compared to America. As for Americans giving refuge to Irish, who exactly are so called Americans, but a mixed breed of irish, british, italians, chinese etc etc. who took over a land belonging to what whites decided to call " American Indians " This woman should have been treated better whether illegal or not, in a so called civilized country.
seanmac50 | Dec 28, 2012, 09:25 AM EST
There are some stupid comments in this page. America gave a refuge to the Irish when there was no hope here during and after our terrible Civil War. As the son of parents who emigrated to the U.S.A. and later managed to return to Ireland I am grateful to America. The reason the Irish are emigrating again is that there is a recession here, and jobs are available in Canada and Australia.
Happyhippo | Dec 28, 2012, 07:32 AM EST
The season of good will obviously dont apply to this site which seems to attract its over supply of bigots i was hoping for some informed comment but just more of the same from people who have nothing else to offer.
STEVENSTAR | Dec 27, 2012, 08:51 PM EST
GOD LOVE HER... ILLIGAL ALIEN? YOUD SWEAR SHE CAME FORM THE PLANET MARS... WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH ABOUT THIS IS YOU HAVE LIKE 30MILLION AMERICANS CLAIMING IRISH ANCESTARY AND HAVE THIS POOR OLD LADY BEEN 'LABELLED' AN ALIEN ...ITS EASY TO SEE WHY WE IRISH NOW STICK TO IMMIGRATING TO AUSTRALIA, ENLAND AND LONDON AND CANADA AND TURNED OUR BACKS ON AMERICA YEARS AGO ... GOOD RIDDANCE AND IF I WAS THIS WOMAN ID GET OUTTA GIRL AND COME BACK HOME !!! TWAS THE SORRY DAY YOU MOVED THERE TO THAT LOT !!!
bobby | Dec 27, 2012, 07:04 PM EST
@ballyminger, And is now stuck in the Nut house.
bobby | Dec 27, 2012, 07:00 PM EST
@bostonblakie, not a chance, the Irish that built your country no longer wish to go there. Canada and Australia are a much better choice. What you are turning into is Mexico. Big gasp....(LOL)
cillowen | Dec 27, 2012, 06:29 PM EST
now she's in a gun infested looney bin - two can play that game
ballylanger | Dec 27, 2012, 04:13 PM EST
At least she got out of vatican infested Ireland.
Happyhippo | Dec 27, 2012, 02:18 PM EST
What an incredible story,Josephine was born Limerick in mar 5 months before Michael Collins was shot dead in aug 1922 and lived stateless for almost 90 years of her life,how did she do that,she surely deserves an award for Grit.
bostonblakie | Dec 27, 2012, 02:01 PM EST
Political correctness strikes again. Too many Irish and we might turn into Canada or Australia. (gasp!)
FastEddy | Dec 27, 2012, 01:53 PM EST
This is great. Now she can buy a gun.
joan1954 | Dec 27, 2012, 10:33 AM EST
God Bless you Josephine. You show the grit and etermination or an earlier generation of immigrants but there were people who stood and were ready to help you. This is an example, I suppose, of what the dream act could be if applied to all regardless of age.
Searlit | Dec 27, 2012, 10:28 AM EST
What a strong woman. I hope she will be able to get her medical needs taken care of now. People that are working hard an faced with the stresses of poverty shouldn't have to fall through the cracks, while corporations keep their subsidies (corporate welfare).
donal1951 | Dec 27, 2012, 10:19 AM EST
God bless Josephine! Bless the nuns who helped her survive. Her case shows a one-size fits all amnesty programme would fail. She certainly deserves to be a US citizen.
cabbagehead44 | Dec 27, 2012, 10:06 AM EST
This story points up the inequality in a system that discriminates against the least fortunate