Irish undocumented welcome immigration move

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Hundreds of Irish immigrants gather under a banner at the U.S. Capitol

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The Irish undocumented have warmly welcomed the news that the Obama administration will address the issue of immigration reform in the next couple of months.

Many of them have been living in the U.S. for many years and haven’t been home in a very long time. 

 Lisa from Co. Donegal told IrishCentral that the news came as “an utter shock” but she was elated.

“I really can’t believe that Obama is even thinking about touching such a hot issue this year,” said the undocumented girl who has been living in upstate New York for four years.

“But I am over the moon. If he (Obama) does manage to get it through both houses then I’ll hopefully get a visa out of it and that is worth ten Christmases to me,” she said.

 Lisa said she isn’t worried about a fine or back taxes, she just wants to be able to stay in the U.S. long term and travel back and forth to see her family whenever she feels like it.

“I wonder if we will have green cards by December if Obama manages to get this pushed through?” she questions.

“Either way I’m delighted that he is even considering some kind of legislation that would allow the undocumented to stay in the U.S long term,” said Lisa.

“It’s about time that someone has the neck to take out the strong red necks in Congress that have been anti immigration for a long time.”

 Lisa, who works in the bar in Manhattan, went out for a beer over the weekend to “celebrate the news.”

“Honest to god, we actually toasted Obama on this issue. Now I guess it’s just a waiting game,” she said.

Deirdre, from Co. Dublin and has been living in Queens for nearly 10 years, said she was also “very happy” to hear the President’s comments last week. 

“I am hopeful that the third time is a charm,” laughs Deirdre referring to the past two comprehensive immigration reform bills that failed to pass congress during the Bush administration.

 “It's a very delicate issue that has been polarizing in the past so I'm hoping that President Obama will bring his calm assertiveness to bare on it,” said Deirdre.

 Executive Director of the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco and active member of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR), Celine Kennelly told IrishCentral that she welcomed President Obama’s move to bring the debate on comprehensive immigration reform back to the table this year. “But,” she said, “we are very much aware that this is a difficult time to tackle such a contentious issue and we will not be raising our hopes too quickly.”

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