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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 Kennelly pointed out that the U.S. immigration system “is broken” and “needs to be fixed.”

 “The Irish community in San Francisco will certainly be to the fore to support any initiative to fix the immigration system for once and for all and help our undocumented community to move on with their lives,” she said.

 Dermot, a Co. Kildare export, has been living in the U.S. for 18 years without papers.

 Dermot has little faith left in politicians who promise him the world.

“I’ve no belief in any of this at all. After 18 years here I’ve heard it all before. Politicians have promised it all to nothing and us has come about yet so I just don’t know.

Disheartened at this stage in life, Dermot who said he has given up the fight for the undocumented and is living life day by day.

“I’d only believe it if I was sitting in front of an immigration fella in an immigration office,” said Dermot referring to a time when one would be called for an interview by the Department of Homeland Security.

“Any politician at the minute that promises to bring about immigration reform I have no belief in,” he said.

The Executive Director of the ILIR, Kelly Fincham, said: “We are cautiously optimistic however we have been brought to the altar twice before and hope that this time the president can gain the support he needs in the senate.”

 In the mean time the ILIR are pursuing talks with the Irish Government on an alternative route.

“We are holding an information meeting in Rory Dolan’s on Wednesday, May 6^th at 7.30pm to address concerns within the community,” said Fincham. 

“Bruce Morrison will also be at the meeting. We want to keep the community informed that every and any development taking place that involves the future of undocumented Irish immigrants in the U.S.”

Obama plans to speak publicly about the issue in May, administration officials said. During the summer he will convene working groups, including lawmakers from both parties and a range of immigration groups, to begin discussing possible legislation sooner rather than later.

Tuesday The New York Times reported that two major U.S. labor heads have agreed to support immigration reform, something in the past they were set against. 

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