With no jobs, piling debt and no prospects in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland, one Irish family made the painful choice to leave their home behind and start anew in New York, even though they will live here undocumented. They are pleased with how the move has gone thus far, they tell April Drew.
Recession-hit Ireland has forced a mother and father and their two children to pack their lives into four suitcases, bid adieu to family and move 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean for a life that promises hope and prosperity – even though they will soon lapse into an undocumented status.
Paul and Rachel (not their real names) were, like thousands of other Irish families, suffering the effects of the severe economic downturn in Ireland.
They were about to lose their home. The family business had gone into bankruptcy. Finding the money to pay outstanding bills was becoming a nightmare, and putting food on the table was a constant struggle.
“What choice did we have really?” Paul, 31, said to the Irish Voice over a cup of Barry’s Tea last week.
“A life in New York can give us back what we lost in Ireland and help us back on our feet,” said Rachel, 30, taking a sip of her tea.
Two months ago Rachel, Paul and their two boys arrived in the Big Apple, not knowing many people, but full of hope and optimism.
They were determined to leave the physical and emotional effects of the Irish recession behind them and start fresh.
A new life in a new country -- a country they visited in the past and felt a connection to -- is what they have set out to achieve, and so far it has been a success.
Rewind three years. Paul had a successful plumbing business with seven staff at his disposal. His business was thriving -- so busy, in fact, that he had to refuse jobs because he didn’t have the time to complete them.
Rachel could afford to stay at home and look after their now 11-year-old and 18-month-old sons. They had two cars, nice clothes and a great social life. They wanted for nothing.
“Things were great for a while,” remembers Paul. “But everything went downhill very fast.”
The past 12 months saw a dramatic change in their lifestyle.
“It was really a knock-on effect. People weren’t getting paid so I wasn’t getting paid. I was owed a lot of money, and in reality I couldn’t keep going so I lost the business,” Paul admitted before stepping out to tend to their youngest son.
Paul, the proud breadwinner, had to do what he never envisioned doing. He had to draw Irish unemployment payments, which meant relying on the Irish government to put food on the table for his family.
“I had to go on the dole in the finish up. We couldn’t afford a week’s shopping and we were heading down the road of the house being taken off us because we couldn’t afford the mortgage,” he said upon returning to the kitchen table.
Realizing they had hit rock bottom, Paul and Rachel sat down to discuss their options.
“That life at home wasn’t for me anymore. I seriously thought about what could be done to get us out of this hole,” said Paul.
“Ya, we really began to think outside of the box to see what options were available to us,” added Rachel before slipping off to put their baby to bed.
Paul admitted the financial strain his family was under the few months before leaving Ireland was very stressful, but not having any work to get up for each morning was even more emotionally challenging and difficult to deal with.
“It got to the stage where I couldn’t get out of bed. I was depressed to be honest, and that was really hard,” says Paul candidly.
“I’ve been working since I was 16, so to all of a sudden to be out of a job was a killer.”
Having heard about the success many Irish immigrants have had in New York, and with a cousin already established here, the family made the difficult decision to put the pause button on their life in Ireland.
“Naturally it was a hard decision, and our families were upset that we were moving, but we said we will give it a year and see after that,” explains Paul.
They are acutely aware that in a few weeks they will be over their 90-day legal limit stay in the U.S., but it’s not a concern at the minute.
Said Paul, “We really felt we had no choice if we wanted to give our sons a good life” so becoming undocumented is something the family are willing to accept.
After weeks of hotels, self-catering apartments and temporary rentals, the immigrant family has finally secured a cozy little home in an Irish enclave north of Manhattan. They have begun to settle and enjoy life in New York.
The family has resorted to renting their nearly four-year-old house back home. The income from the rent will cover the interest on their mortgage.
“We told our bank manager that was all we could afford to pay at the moment (interest) and he accepted it thank God,” said Rachel, hoping to hang onto their Irish home for as long as possible.
Their older son has been enrolled in a local school, and already Rachel is comparing the cost of sending a child to school in New York and Ireland.
“I can’t believe how great it is here,” said Rachel.
“At home before the child even begins school you end up spending hundreds of euros on school books and uniforms. That’s not the case here at all. It’s much more affordable and we’re grateful for that.”
To date their experience in New York has been good.
“People have been very good to us since we arrived,” said Rachel.
Only days after arriving Paul secured a job in his field of expertise, and is now working up to six days a week.
“I’m happy again. I’m working, providing for the family and it’s all looking very positive,” he said.
Rachel is currently interviewing for waitressing jobs and hopes to secure employment in the next week or so.
Their 11-year-old is also settling fast. He has begun playing Gaelic football with a local team, made several friends in the neighborhood and is excited with the new venture.
“Ya, it’s great,” he told the Irish Voice.
“I have lots of friends that I play with across the road in the school and they are very nice.”
Paul and Rachel realize that their children too will be undocumented, but feel a life in New York without papers is still a better option than a life in Ireland with no money for food, or having their home repossessed.
“We’ve made the right decision,” said Paul confidently.
They remain positive.
“This is a great country. How many thousands of Irish have come before us and made a success of themselves? We too will be like them,” added Paul with a smile.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Ajreaper | Oct 25, 2010, 11:45 PM EDT
LOL, I am sorry George I gave you the benefit of the doubt and figured you were aware this dealt with an irish family coming to the U.S.- why would anyone care about emigrating to Ireland at this point in time or how easy or difficult it may be? Completely unrelated to the topic of the article being discussed.
maloney | Oct 25, 2010, 07:36 PM EDT
Tax I.D.'s & ICE will work together in the near future. Sending the illegal aliens back to where they belong. If illegals are such good workers why are they at the front of the line at DSS with their greasy little hands out? Why don't they stay were they belong & work to make their own countries better? Why do you expect the American people to pay for these illegal aliens? The illegals are bright & skilled at lying, stealing, raping, Drunken driving killing Americans in the process & bringing illness & many health problems to America, expecting legal citizens to pay for everything.
MarthaAnne | Oct 25, 2010, 07:05 PM EDT
Just a little point for those who don't already know this. Illegal immigrants, if they intend to try to become legal immigrants in this country some day, somehow, always pay income tax. Any immigration lawyer will tell you that if an illegal alien wants to someday become legal, the very first thing he or she must do is show that they paid income tax during the entire time they were in the U.S. How is this done? By getting a tax I.D. which is NOT revealed to the ICE (Immigration and Naturalization Service). I also want to make this comment to people who think like killowen, who wrote: "Productive illegals is what we want not those who drain the system while running over you on bicycles. And required to speak their language for good measure." Wow, what a blantant display of racial or ethnic prejudice. Fact is, many illegal immigrants from other "undesirable" non-English speaking countries can and do work circles around Americans for their wages, are (yes!) bright and skilled in the trades, or pick them up easily, and they DO learn English.
killowen | Oct 25, 2010, 02:33 PM EDT
Productive illegals is what we want not those who drain the system while running over you on bicycles. And required to speak their language for good measure. The pumping power of the Zionist Banker Supremos whose control over the dwindling Yankee/Brit empire needs to be understood. It led to the wild exhuberance of the Tiger who had no real meat on its bones. With the help of an IDA, firms were offered low taxation inducements to plant themselves in Eire for a time. It had the less than business savvy natives excited for a few years and it helped pave the way for the so-called Peace Agreement that protected our Master's London Financial district power base.
NancyLou9 | Oct 25, 2010, 12:04 PM EDT
No, please, not more illegal aliens. Our country's crashing and burning from the plight of illegal aliens. Why didn't you start the process of being here legally on the 1st day you were here? I love Ireland, I loved the Irish people - I can't stand illegal aliens.
MaryM232 | Oct 25, 2010, 10:33 AM EDT
They had food on the table back in Ireland, it wasn't that. They just refused to pitch in and work hard to reform their country. They didn't want to sacrifice, merely sponge off others. They'll be paid under the table, and others will have to pay the tax to educate the children of these selfish, lazy people. I've got news for them. The US economy is on the verge of collapse, and there won't be work. In fact, they will be outed by an angry American, and the DHS will deport them, because it would make a nice show for them to appear to be enforcing the laws. ICE is only negligent in enforcing the laws against Hispanics. I'll be passing this info on to acquaintances in NY.
Aylward | Oct 25, 2010, 10:10 AM EDT
Of course this family had many choices, as another poster noted, to go to any of the many other countries in the EU. In the US they will be paid under the table, thereby not paying any income taxes we legal US citizens/residents pay for national, state and local government services (it's called infrastructure). Neither will their employers pay any taxes on their income from their labor. This man is a plumber - but he isn't licensed in the US. In the dire US economy there are many US plumbers,electricians and carpenters barely scraping by and in need of fuller employment. This Irish family has given up health care and much cheaper higher education for their kids. Their free-loading re not paying income taxes may be enough to pay for regular health care for a family of four. But any accident or serious illness requiring expensive medications, therapies, medical specialists and or hospitalization will wipe them out in less than a week. Another poster said the family came and got jobs, not looking for a govt. handout. News for you, boy-o - freeloading by not paying taxes is stealing a govt. handout. The cost for one child in a US public school is at least $4,000 per year. How's that for a govt. handout? And tell me again, how you feel about the Roma, who are LEGALLY in Ireland. I've seen the reaction to them in Dublin - not particularly welcoming. So when an Irish family games the system of another country, you see them as just being clever? But when a "foreigner" legally moves to Ireland, they are loathed.
Medrano1025 | Oct 24, 2010, 09:49 PM EDT
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GeorgeDillon | Oct 24, 2010, 06:14 PM EDT
Ajreaper and longislander are really uninformed and careless readers, for they fail to read my post. I spoke of the difficulty of EMIGRATING to Ireland--do you guys know the difference between emigrating to a country and going on a vacation to it? Looks like you don't, if you did you wouldn't write the nonsense below.
Ajreaper | Oct 24, 2010, 05:53 PM EDT
George the degree to which you are questioned at immigration depends on the officer and any red flags you may raise for whatever reason. I have never spent more then 30 seconds passing through immigration at Dublin airport.
Searlit | Oct 24, 2010, 02:51 PM EDT
GeorgeDillon, is there a developed country Americans can go to, if they have lost their job? I mean really? You do seem to, only hold Ireland acountable, friend.
CitizenWhy | Oct 24, 2010, 02:21 PM EDT
Undocumented Irish in the skilled trades are an old story in New York. Things work out because of the special skills and the particular neighborhood they choose to live in. ... In their current neighborhood there are many undocumented Irish, so no nosy inquiries are made. ... As for the schools, kids can get a good education in any school provided the parents help with the learning and the kids are motivated. If they work at their schooling they can still get a quality, and fairly cheap, college education at a public university. If they pick up a skilled, licensed trade they will not need the college degree. .. A waitress with an Irish accent is a desirable employee. If the wife can get into the party catering business with other Irish she can begin to make serious money. ... Even better get a nurses degree at a community college, do private work with wealthy people, and get left a generous sum of money. ... I am speaking from the experience of some Irish born relatives of mine.
MarthaAnne | Oct 24, 2010, 01:08 PM EDT
I assume that this family, had they stayed in Ireland, would be able to send their children to tuition free quality schools through university and get quality, affordable medical care and enough food to eat. This is not the same as the plight of the desperately poor who come from cental and south American nations, who have to pay tuition even for high school, cannot afford medical care, etc.
longislander1940 | Oct 24, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT
Did anyone notice that the family got "JOBS" right away. They didnt come here looking for payouts from the government like most people do. Good luck to them. As for George Dillons comment I've been in Dublin and Shannon Airports., yes, they ask where are you staying and for how long but they also say WELCOME and enjoy your stay.
GeorgeDillon | Oct 24, 2010, 08:54 AM EDT
The posters who are looking for special treatment for Irish immigrants to the US appear ignorant of the fact that emigration to Ireland is even more difficult for an American citizen, even one with Irish heritage. Bosnians, Roma, Latvians, Nigerians, Pakistanis etc. can stroll thru the Immigration Hall at Dubln Airport, but if you're an American, even one--as are so many--with Irish great granparents, you'll get the once over and be asked what are you doing in Ireland and when are you leaving. I have no sympathy for Irish illegals here--they should GO HOME and do something about the dump they have created, and punish the people they elected time & again. It's like a family who trash their own house to the point that no one can live in it, and then want their neighbors to take them in. Get Real, Irish--you created the pigsty--go clean it up, don't just leave it there.
Searlit | Oct 23, 2010, 02:40 PM EDT
Don't fight amongst each other, you guys! That's what helped a foreign country to invade Ireland and dominate it for so long, to begin with. Hail to the Irish and the Irish American, as well!
BronxIrish | Oct 23, 2010, 09:37 AM EDT
To mourneman: Us Irish Americans are well aware of what an important role the Irish played in the history of our country. After all, we are direct descendants of the Irish you speak of and that is why we are here today. It was my grandparents who made a life here and did their best to contribute to America and all its greatness. We are the only ones who can claim this; not you my friend. The simple fact is the Irish of today have no resemblance to that generation and have no right to anything they accomplished. Its actually quite funny that you would use that as an example. The Irish of today are euro trash - a godless liberal bunch who share none of the same values as my grandparents. They bashed this country from sun up til sun down when times were good in Ireland. I hope they enjoy their rainy days!
ScotInUSA | Oct 22, 2010, 05:39 PM EDT
The could have gone anywhere in Europe. They could have gone to mainland UK. If they had done that they would have been legal. No One made them come to the US. There is unemployment and recession everywhere. Parents are not being fair to their kids who will not be able to work/go to college/drive when they get older. I came to the US legally and at the moment I have a time limit to my stay. I may have to return to the UK but I want to stay here. However, I will do it legally.
mourneman | Oct 22, 2010, 04:54 PM EDT
All you americans knockin g the irish if you knew anything about the history of your wonderful country you would see the Irish brought more to it than any other race....presidents, lawmakers, pioneers etc who are a big reason why the US is a powerful country
ancavker | Oct 22, 2010, 03:53 PM EDT
A stereotype? Sadly not,very common.
conchobhar | Oct 22, 2010, 03:32 PM EDT
Funny about your experience, Wounded Knee. Word in Manhattan around that time was that, if you wanted an apartment renovated, on time and on budget, with craftsmanlike work, your best bet was to find some Irish illegals. Do you think maybe one stereotype doesn't fit all?
plasticpaddy | Oct 22, 2010, 12:56 PM EDT
wow ancavker, way to stereotype.
kell7757 | Oct 22, 2010, 12:37 AM EDT
Irish relatives are the worst. And what is with that picture? Is that supposed to be the family watching American TV getting all ready for the American experience. Please, give me a break.
BronxIrish | Oct 21, 2010, 07:49 PM EDT
amen ancavker
Searlit | Oct 21, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT
I've been to Ireland three times and have never experienced any rudeness. People have to get to know you as a person to really see who you are, not as an Irish-American or whatever nationality. I was myself, with all my foibles, and they with theirs, just human beings, and they went out of their way to be nice.
Ajreaper | Oct 21, 2010, 04:56 PM EDT
Well I am fairly certain there are those who have traveled in the U.S. who can tell stories about rude abusive people. Rudeness knows no boundries nor is it specific to a particular ethnic group.
ancavker | Oct 21, 2010, 03:53 PM EDT
Has nothing to do with lacking a bright and sunny disposition.It has happened with many in Ireland, and the same with many of the 80's Irish over here. I live in one of the Irish-American neighborhoods, and have had first hand experience with this behavior and attitude in the past. Glad you have not experienced it first hand, but as I say many of ushave. I know more than a few Irish-Americans who have vowed never to return to Ireland on a trip. Oh and I treat others very well too. Too bad you have to infer that I somehow do not. I am sure there are many other Irish-Americans and native born Irish who can back me up on this.
Ajreaper | Oct 21, 2010, 01:58 PM EDT
LOL, well ancavker I find it so hard to believe anyone, to include the Irish would every label you an A hole. With such a bright and sunny disposition and all. I have never been treated poorly by anyone in Ireland but then again I treat others well.
ancavker | Oct 21, 2010, 10:50 AM EDT
Things get tough and they flee? This is the educated, new, new, sophisicated Irish, running to America!! The land of the Irish American A---Holes as we have been called so many times over the years. Of course I guess we should be grateful that some would even concede that we had some connection with Ireland at all. They laughed at us, ridiculed us, told us how the U.S. is the root cause of all problems in the world. Told us we have no business claiming to be Irish, laughed and just simply ozzed contempt for our love, appreciation, and, respect for the music and culture of Ireland. We could not be Irish,yet they did not want anything to do with the culture, but yet we could not have it either. And yet ironically they had no problem pretending and acting like they were American, or English. Comical really, what an odd bunch. And now another crowd of them wants to come here?? And to boot we are having our own severe economic problems. And if they hate us so much, why do they insist on moving into what are considered Irish-American neighborhoods? And of course they would have no problem working for some a-hole Irish- American. Not to mention the crowd from the 80's that stayed here are incredibly ungrateful to the herculean efforts made by Irish-Americans including the publisher of this newspaper to obtain legal status for them. Sorry just not feeling it for the "poor old Irish" and their economic problems. Are some of these Irish now crying the same crowd that were coming to NYC for weekend shopping trips?? Oh and if you are coming and moving into our Irish-A--hole American neighborhoods we are really not looking forward to walking over you drunk butts on Sunday morning, or hosing vomit off our cars and driveways.
Ajreaper | Oct 21, 2010, 09:44 AM EDT
Good Lord, unless you are a Native American let's not get all self rightous about "OUR LAND". And let's just be completely honest- if an ocean did not seperate us from Europe how many millions would have come to America had they only needed to walk across a border? If you wish to hunt down and return all those illegal aliens then be prepared to give up a great many things we take for granted because in order to do that there will be massive intrusion on our personal freedoms as they search for them-but of course you really mean "ship them all back BUT don't disrupt me in the least or tax me in order to do it". Securing our borders and hunting down and returning illegals will not be easy or cheap.
WoundedKnee | Oct 21, 2010, 03:08 AM EDT
Dublinjas: "Who destroyed the Worlds Economies ? I'll give you a clue, It was not the Irish."-----The Irish just destroyed their own economy. All illegal aliens should be kicked back to whence they came. Just because Ireland has an Open Door immigration policy doesn't mean we should--we've got nothing to learn from Ireland, except how NOT to run things.
WoundedKnee | Oct 21, 2010, 03:05 AM EDT
ancavker: You're quite right. I never came across such a - conceited lazy foul-mouthed lot as the irish who hit our shores in the late 1980s. I was the same age as most of them, early 20s, but I couldn't stand them. Most them spent their free time hanging around bars in Queens and the West bronx, they had no interest in learning about America or seeing it. They thought they knew it all from TV and movies.
neeliadross | Oct 21, 2010, 01:09 AM EDT
On another note, my parents immigrated here illegally in the eighties and thank god they did. NI am happy to be able to pursue a career that would have been mediocre at best in Ireland. As for not paying our share at the time, the US government is getting it's Just Deserts now and will do eventually for all of the immigrants who become legal in time. I am currently in the worst tax bracket paying a huge portion of my earning in taxes without being eligible for any stimulus or other immigrant "minority" breaks because I am "white" after all. Still seething over the ignorant comment below...
neeliadross | Oct 21, 2010, 12:58 AM EDT
Krisdaly dont kid yourself! Your grandparents were allowed to enter legally because the government needed them at the time. How dare you rant in ALL CAPS and call this land "OUR LAND". This is no more your land then the land of this hard working family. SHAME ON YOU!!! IN ALL CAPS TOO!!!
krisdaly | Oct 21, 2010, 12:25 AM EDT
Shame on you for breaking the immigration law of the USA. My grandparents immigrated LEGALLY through ELLIS ISLAND. YOU ARE CRIMINALS AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE USA. SHAME,SHAME,SHAME ON YOU. THERE WILL BE NO REWARDS FOR BREAKING THE LAWS OF OUR LAND!!!!!!!!!!!
Ajreaper | Oct 20, 2010, 10:43 PM EDT
LOL, what am I giving away? I live in AZ. have for over 40 years and folks are raising hell because of the drugs and crime that comes up from the south- I have zero issues with those that come here to work but what else crosses the border is what drives the push for a secure border which will impact those who desire nothing more then to make an honest living working here. How can it not?
wombab143 | Oct 20, 2010, 08:52 PM EDT
Ajreaper gives himself away subtly. "The criminal element coming north taints everyone" as opposed to the "Irish gentleman" who works hard, blah blah blah. Look you're talking about Mexicans and you're wrong. They come here to work same as us. They are our natural allies and there'll be no immigration reform while Irish people think we are a special case. And by the way, what's with the "Ya" that the author quotes her interviewees as saying? "Ya"?
elektros | Oct 20, 2010, 07:40 PM EDT
The immigration rules are ridiculous, and I say that as someone who has a green card. Some estimates say that there are 12 million illegals. If they can't keep them out, and clearly they can't, then they should loosen the rules to regularise the situation. They won't, though. Common sense seems to have no place atall in American politics.
Ajreaper | Oct 20, 2010, 02:41 PM EDT
Unless I missed something the Irish here without documentation are not in anyway linked to the drug trade or human trafficking. Unfortunately the criminal element coming north taints everyone- there are plenty, in fact the majority would be my guess, who come here and work hard to support their families no different then this Irish gentleman but when all the bad comes along with them it raises other issues. Those who wish to work should be able to enter this country and do so- regardless of skin color.
killowen | Oct 20, 2010, 01:24 PM EDT
Well educated souls who leave to enrich other lands. A beat that goes on giving. Thanks to the poodle folks with their severed poodle piece of country. The Clintons are pushing for that British poodle head piece of old erin. Ms. Clinton helping the crown like hubby did by bringing Gerry Adams in from the cold. Knightings are due them. Living in or coming from a poodle looking island with its severed head in the control of long occupier neighbour makes for severe dysfunctional behaviour. A people whose usurped harp flys on the Sasanach standards - proclaiming ireland as being in union with them. Next year, 2011, their queen is to arrive to cement their claim. Then the wild exhuberance of that tiger era which is but a pu$$ssy cat version whose nine lives are up. Mysterious oligarch Abramovith, Chelsea's owner is going to sue the irish Gov for billions - another hit on their taxpaying unfortunates. Sad to say but it gets worse with cutbacks that will last for years upon years. Religion that gave them a sense that there was a tomorrow leaves them feeling like lemmings - making for diminished sexual interest.
killowen | Oct 20, 2010, 01:24 PM EDT
Well educated souls who leave to enrich other lands. A beat that goes on giving. Thank to the poodle folks with their severed poodle piece of country. The Clintons are pushing for that British poodle head piece of old erin. Ms. Clinton helping the crown like hubby did by bringing Gerry Adams in from the cold. Knightings are due them. Living in or coming from a poodle looking island with its severed head in the control of long occupier neighbour makes for severe dysfunctional behaviour. A people whose usurped harp flys on the Sasanach standards - proclaiming ireland as being in union with them. Next year, 2011, their queen is to arrive to cement their claim. Then the wild exhuberance of that tiger era which is but a pu$$ssy cat version whose nine lives are up. Mysterious oligarch Abramovith, Chelsea's owner is going to sue the irish Gov for billions - another hit on their taxpaying unfortunates. Sad to say but it gets worse with cutbacks that will last for years upon years. Religion that gave them a sense that there was a tomorrow leaves them feeling like lemmings - making for diminished sexual interest.
ancavker | Oct 20, 2010, 12:53 PM EDT
I wonder if the new, new Irish coming, will eb a little noicer to the Irish Americans than the last crowd.
citizen69 | Oct 20, 2010, 12:28 PM EDT
Too many people in Ireland desert the land they claim to love when the going gets tough. This family say the USA is a great country but the first thing they do is disrespect the place by breaking it's laws and staying illegally. What makes these people any different than undocumented Mexicans? How does one get a job & put kids into school without documents/social security No.s? Will they contribute to the country by paying their taxes?
Dublinjas | Oct 20, 2010, 11:43 AM EDT
Who destroyed the Worlds Economies ? I'll give you a clue, It was not the Irish.
Searlit | Oct 20, 2010, 10:53 AM EDT
I'm glad they're here. They wouldn't have to be undocumented if the immigration laws were fairer to Irish Immigrants. Our country isn't being overrun by illegal Irish.
LoveDoolin | Oct 20, 2010, 10:34 AM EDT
Here is an experienced tradesman, who will be productive in the US, not look to the government to subsidize his and his families needs, yet this family must stay under the radar. America is and should be the melting pot, but for people like this family, who are willing to contribute to our society, not live off of it.
Yerffac | Oct 20, 2010, 10:32 AM EDT
All we need--more undocumented people--but then, they are white, now brown, so that makes it all right with the morons on this site.
antoman | Oct 20, 2010, 10:17 AM EDT
You have nothing to fear from Irish immigrants in America.They were there at the beginning and they'll be there at the end.
Ajreaper | Oct 20, 2010, 09:57 AM EDT
There is something wrong with our immigration laws when an honest experienced tradesmen cannot easily relocate here with his family and legally secure work and provide for his family. I am afraid as a nation we have forgotten what built this country and sustained it through difficult times. I realize we cannot have a open door but a sensible common sense policy should not be impossible either. I sincerely hope their willingness to leave all they know behind in an attempt to establish a new life here pays off.
Jamaicelt | Oct 20, 2010, 09:51 AM EDT
If I have one criticism of my own countrymen it is the speed with which they desert their own country. We have a long, sad history of bailing out on her when she needs us most, and forgetting all about her except to whine and sing when they are drunk how much they miss "the oul sod". Yes, times are tight, but they are tight everywhere. Packing up the kids and moving them to a foreign country and a far from certain future seems irresponsible to me.
bronxjames | Oct 20, 2010, 09:13 AM EDT
Thank God people who aren't hispanic. Welcome to the USA. Find a nice neighborhood to live in. Then an attorney to help you. NEVER let your children out alone. Don't forget there are a lot nicer places than NYC. Upstate NY is beautiful but again certain neighborhoods suk. This is from a 60 year old who has lived in NY his whole life. I know of what I say.
bunchesofun | Oct 20, 2010, 09:01 AM EDT
I wish our country would revise the immigration laws. People are coming in illegally. If we loosened the laws a bit at least we would be more able to keep track of people who come in instead of not knowing who is here.