The undocumented Irish have picked up a key new supporter in Congress.
Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA) has pledged to support the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and its efforts on behalf of the undocumented Irish in the U.S.
Congressman Delahunt is an influential member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee where much of the future of immigration reform legislation lies.
Delahunt met ILIR President Ciaran Staunton and Massachusetts directors Hugh Meehan and Jimmy Gallagher of Boston at his offices in Washington to discuss immigration reform and the situation facing the undocumented Irish community, particularly in his congressional district.
Staunton said Delahunt could not have been more supportive of comprehensive immigration reform and a system guaranteeing future migration for the Irish.
"We were deeply honored when he told us we could regard him, ‘as our leader in the House on immigration reform'’."
Staunton added, "In the past we were able to celebrate the Donnelly and Morrison visas. Hopefully, we will soon be able to rejoice in the Delahunt visas.”
Congressman Delahunt praised ILIR’s leadership in giving voice to the Irish dimension of the immigration reform campaign.
“ILIR has done a great job letting Congress know Irish America supports fair and comprehensive immigration reform. I look forward to highlighting these issues when they come before my Committee and on the floor of Congress," he said.
“The Irish have made a fantastic contribution to the development of our great country through hard work and sacrifice.
"I pledge to ILIR and the Irish American community my help in changing the tough situation facing many of today’s Irish Immigrants, both in my district and across the United States. I also look forward to ensuring that future Irish migrants have the ability to come to America, to have the opportunities my grandparents had when they came here.”
Jimmy Gallagher echoed these sentiments saying, "“Congressman Delahunt went out of his way to show concern and compassion for the undocumented Irish in his district.”
19 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Monsoonman | Jul 08, 2010, 10:47 AM EDT
In Massachusetts do the illegal aliens get to vote in our elections?
deanblack | Mar 17, 2010, 10:24 PM EDT
garyrose, My ancestor Patrick Sr. arrived on these shores some 200 years ago from the hill country of what is now "Northern Ireland". I think he would be displeased to read your comments on Mexican immigrants, probably because the US census people have indicated that there are probably in excess of 12 million undocumented persons in the US, including an estimated 8 million from Mexico(not 12 to 20 million). There is big question of this too, due to labeling of anyone speaking Spanish as "Mexican", even this descendent of Ireland and some Native American (Indians). Happy St. Patrick's Day! When is the feast day of St. Brendan the Navigator?
dermot.r | Feb 11, 2010, 06:42 PM EST
People, people! Let's keep it civil!
Madeleine | Jan 25, 2010, 04:30 AM EST
Hollowayrd: The Mongolians came down the asiatic straits looking for food and land, they found America, there were caucasians there as proven by bones found that were older than the Indians,probably vikings. Indians are monglolians, thats all they are. Most countries belonged to some one else first or were conquered , but if you build up a country to Times square, Brooklyn bridge status and paid into the system for any length of time then it is your country. Most Americans , even a newer immigrant feels that America is their home, otherwise why work and pay taxes? You can't justify making America a dumping ground for every Immigrant the UN decides needs an education and medical help and to them we have too much anyway, you can't do that with the excuse that we are all immigrants anyway and it isn't our country, then we shoudln't have to pay taxes should we. We would love to have more Irish come to America,but if that were OK for them it would have to be OK for everyone else. Bush made deals with Mexico and now we are stuck with them. They do not want people with loyalty to America coming in and becoming citizens, they want people who are just here to make money and send it home to Mexico , as for the Africans, who knows why they send them to us, the UN are racists and feel we should all integrate. We are no longer a majority in America, if you put the Hispanics and the blacks and Africans together they out number us, they don't want any more whites in America, unfortunately.
garyrose | Jan 24, 2010, 06:42 PM EST
I FEEL SORRY THE IRISH DOES NOT HAVE POLITICAL PULL? MEXICO AND HAITI HAS WHY MEXICO HAS SHOVED INTO U.S.A. 12 to 20 MILLION ILLEGALS INTO AMERICA?? AND OUR ACTING I SAY ACTING PRESIDENT IS THINKING ABOUT FORCEING THEM ONTO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND AMERICA??WHY I WOULD RATHER HAVE 100000 IRISHMEN THEN ANY OF MEXICOS UNGRATEFUL MASSES ANYTIME. JUST AN AMERICAN TAXPAYER>>>THANK YOU IRISH>>>>
Meggie01 | Jan 18, 2010, 02:21 PM EST
Hollowayroad, I can't go to stay in Europe. I don't have a visa. I also cannot return to Asia, where I once lived. So if I want to return to those places, I can try for a visa, but if I do not get one, I will not disrespect those countries by illegally entering.
ThomasCoolberth | Jan 15, 2010, 10:00 PM EST
Hollowayroad, likewise you are an illegal immigrant homo-sapien who stole Europe from the Neanderthals! Now go back to Africa where your species originated!
hollowayroad | Jan 12, 2010, 05:39 PM EST
Meggie01,its not your country-it was stolen from the Indians.You are an illegal immigrant yourself-but don`t come back to Europe.
Madeleine | Jan 08, 2010, 04:02 PM EST
I would agree with this totally excep tyou make it so hard for people ot come to your country to live or even vacation. I never heard of having to show a bank draft to vacation in a county and if, like that pofessor, you didn't want them ot come in you just say they don't have enough money regardless of credit cards and I suspect travelers checks as well. Undocumented means illegal, thats what it is. I personally don't care if they are given legal status or not but it shoudln't be easier for them to get into this country illegally than it is to get into theirs just for a vacation. I wish they would make it easier for the Irish to come into this country legally, then they wouldn't have to break the law, its always been hard for them to get in for some reason.
ThomasCoolberth | Dec 26, 2009, 05:56 PM EST
Beware Delahunt and the Demoncrats he'll admit 10 diseased illiterate third world-er for every Irishman and all the while destroy the very same free market capitalism that gave jobs to the Irish immigrants in the first place.
Meggie01 | Dec 23, 2009, 10:50 PM EST
If they can't get visas, they should stay out of our country.
Meggie01 | Dec 21, 2009, 11:01 PM EST
There should be no legalization of those who enter our country by breaking our laws. That said, I would like to see a large expansion in visas for Irish immigrants. But no one who comes here illegally should get to go to the head of the line.
U2rocks | Dec 12, 2009, 03:21 PM EST
I would like to ask all irish people to please support the cause for immigration reform and to please join the community Reform Immigration for America on facebook. We will need all the support we can get to pass this bill in 2010.
jacersisityourself | Nov 25, 2009, 05:40 PM EST
PostScript - Delahunt's name indicates his family arrived from Ireland a very long time ago and the name has been misspelt through the years ever since. It should be Delahunty (French/Irish De la Hauntaigh). Or maybe it's the American way of economising on typing and on printing ink.
jacersisityourself | Nov 25, 2009, 05:26 PM EST
I'm Irish-born and bred and live in Ireland. Personally, I would have little sympathy for the undocumented – they cheated on their visas and stayed illegally in a country hosting their ‘visit’. The problem is that many undocumented have made their homes, careers, families and even, in some cases, fortunes in the USA over the years and there’s now so many of these people since the ‘60s, ‘70’s and 80’s that the human aspect has to be looked at. We in Ireland certainly don’t expect Americans of today to ‘give in’ as they say... it’s a problem that needs to be sorted - politically, hereditarily and humanely, not just for the Irish undocumented but for other nations’ undocumented people in the USA, e.g Mexicans, Latvians, Poles - esp given the implications of marriage and lack of freedom to travel.
plasticpaddy | Nov 10, 2009, 11:01 AM EST
SUNGOLD THEY CAN'T GET VISAS. I'd appreciate it if you would stop making comments on things you clearly know nothing whatsoever about
Madeleine | Nov 10, 2009, 05:07 AM EST
I don't understand why everyone can come in and out of the U.S revolving doors like they own the place and looking to do us harm when the Irish have to leave after 6 months on a work visa. There are 12 to 20 illegals in America that they know of or think there is , the amount is much more and as they come in the jobs go out, it is a very poor way of doing things and very unfair. The Norwegians can't come in either very easily. I lived in Brooklyn most of my life and in Irisha neighborhoods, most of my friends were Irish or Italian, we all got along jus tfine, so did our parnets and they are still my friends. I would welcome an influx of Irish to the US, at least they speak English, that helps. The Irish that are there illegally aren' tdoing what 20 million others aren't doing and they are not looking to kill us so whats the problem? I hope they figure out a solution to their problem and let them stay. I for one would welcome them.
Madeleine | Nov 09, 2009, 06:50 PM EST
Well well another Mass.Democrat weighing in.The archictects of this fiasco,Bobby and Teddy Kennedy are now residing in Arlington Cemetery. Excellent!
Finneggrrrl | Nov 09, 2009, 11:16 AM EST
We need to change this situation in New York too. Some of my friends have had to leave the city they love and their jobs and take their families back because of the tough stance on Irish immigration. The Irish are some of the most vibrant, hard-working members of our city, and should not be treated as trespassing criminals!