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Key week shaping up for passage of E3 visa bill for Irish in US Senate

Senator Scott Brown delighted with strong indications of Irish community support

By
NIALL O'DOWD,
IrishCentral.com Founder
Published Sunday, February 26, 2012, 9:14 AM
Updated Monday, February 27, 2012, 11:35 AM

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See more: Irish immigration  

The E3s would allow 10,500 Irish citizens a year to come to America on renewable two year work visas.


Next week is shaping up as a major one for the prospects for immigration reform and the E3 visas for Irish citizens.

The E3s would allow 10,500 Irish citizens a year to come to America on renewable two year work visas. Australia already has such a deal, while 20 other countries also have reciprocal visa programs with the US but not Ireland.

The key figure on the Republican side, Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts, is said to have been buoyed by the massively positive reception he got from a large Irish Boston audience when he met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny recently when the Irish leader was in Boston.

Brown is in an intense battle with the Democrats to hold on to his seat and the Irish American vote is a critical constituency.

At a reception for the prime minister, Irish community leaders made clear to Brown their appreciation of his work on behalf of the new visa program. Brown’s bill is currently before the senate awaiting action.

A similar bill by Senator Charles Schumer of New York on the Democratic side has gained the support of 53 senators.

This week work to bring together the two bills is expected to gather pace. The hope is that a bill can be agreed in both House and Senate by the St. Patrick’s season, when President Barack Obama will host a White House reception for Enda Kenny.

Supporters believe there is a real chance that the legislation can pass through the senate on a unanimous consent basis. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is said to have made clear to Irish officials that he does not intend to hold it up if he has the votes.

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the republican who has held up the bill and a companion bill for hi-tech skill visas  is said to be in negotiations with Senator Brown about a compromise.

Meanwhile, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform President Ciaran Staunton was in San Antonio, Texas where he addressed the Irish American community there.

He stressed the importance of reaching out to Texas senator John Cornyn and San Antonio US representative Lamar Smith who is a key figure  on immigration in the US House.

​
See more: Irish immigration , US Politics
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6 Comments

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Bill Canukian | Feb 27, 2012, 03:47 PM EST
Does anyone in the Irish media know or care about the effects of the bill that the Irish E3 is bundled with? HR3012 will be devastating for immigrants from all around the world. We will, without any notice or grandfathering, be facing a wait of at least 5 years longer if HR3012 becomes law. For many of us this will break up our families as our kids unexpectedly face the prospect of "aging out" when they hit 21 years of age. You can see more here: www.americabenefits.org

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cillowen | Feb 26, 2012, 09:07 PM EST
Canada's thirst for 350,000 Irish workers is awesome - even when there they'd better watch the usual suspects who will go to any lenght to CONTROL - yes, that country too.

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Murph46 | Feb 26, 2012, 08:42 PM EST
You didn't either apparently Joan!

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joan1954 | Feb 26, 2012, 05:50 PM EST
Murph46. Mark Cuban is an extremely wealthy man and owns the Dallas Mavericks so he can well spend his money the way he sees fit but the fact that he speaks about falling down (aka drunk) that is how he views the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and not as a celebration of identity. Your statement has nothing to do with this article if you want further information there is a website available. What does the E3 visa article have to do with the San Antonio parade, absolutely nothing!!!

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Murph46 | Feb 26, 2012, 12:41 PM EST
Hey Joan ,just curios.Why didn't you want Mark Cuban to fund $100,000 for the Dallas St.Patrick's parade ,when you couldn't scrape together $12,000 for San Antonio? Doesn't make much sense!

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joan1954 | Feb 26, 2012, 11:38 AM EST
Ciaran Staunton did reach out to the four major Irish organizations in San Antonio. Most of them were at the Awards Banquet of the Harp and Shamrock Society held last night to honor the Irishman of the Year, Darryl Britten and the Cusack Award recipients Terry McDonald and Brenda Tobey. We need San Antonians who are in Lamar Smith's district to contact him and seek support for the E3 visas but it would mean a lot more if Irish Government officials could meet with Lamar on San Antonio turf but San Antonio is not a comfort zone for Irish officials because they know so little about this city and South Texas.

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