People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Obama's immigration move on Hispanic illegals will help Irish undocumented - Long term strategy needed more than ever

Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 03:18 PM

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President Obama making a move on immigration

Irish undocumented should breathe a sigh of relief with the Obama administration decision not to deport non-criminal aliens.

117 Irish were deported in 2009 the last year that figures are available for. It is not known how many of those were non-criminal aliens, but my hunch it would that the vast majority would be.

Spurned lovers and jealous work acquaintances were the two top factors behind Irish deportations I understand.
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Under the new rules such people would not longer be deported but left in limbo.

The Obama administration move is an attempt to shore up his faltering support from Hispanics who backed him in huge numbers but who have become disillusioned over the past few two years as Obama has failed to address their issues.

Lacking the votes in Congress, Obama has now done the next best thing and ordered a policy of actively working on cases involving criminal deportations and leaving other cases in limbo.

Limbo is better than a plane ride back for most undocumented I suspect, yet it too is not satisfactory in the long run.

Republicans will try and use it as a wedge issue in the election, but they need to be careful in case they come across as anti-immigrant generally and anti Hispanic specifically.

Irish in American can now move about with greater ease in the knowledge they are unlikely to be deported if caught, but it is hardly ideal for them either.

What is needed is a long term immigration fix with both Republicans and Democrat agreeing on a strategy, creating a far more cohesive policy both about aliens already here and future flow.

Obama may well have moved the ball in this direction so it is certainly a good development.

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Pittsburghkid | Sep 15, 2011, 10:54 PM EDT

Please if you are an Irish illegal do not tell me. I will turn you in. Illegal is illegal regardless of your nationality. The Mexican Illegal recked the American Economy.

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OldMariner | Sep 01, 2011, 12:43 PM EDT

I don't understand many in the Irish-American community (this includes the AOH) wanting special treatment for Irish illegals in this country. Illegal is illegal regardless of country of origin. You don't have to be cynical to know that Obama and the democrats are catering to specifically the Hispanic community to garner votes. It just may be that illegal Hispanics are favored over other illegals.

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Towngate | Aug 26, 2011, 05:31 AM EDT

I really don't GET this! If you are 'undocumented' you are an illegal resident stealing your existance from your 'host' country. Those without corrct verifiable 'papers' should be denied entering financial and legal contracts,refused bank accounts, passports, welfare benefits and any person or corporation employing even a single 'illegal' should be 'liquidated and have the funds used to support the work of the Immigration Dept.!

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Yardleypa | Aug 25, 2011, 04:47 PM EDT

Right now we have 14 million unemployed I think these illegal Irish would be better off in Canada or Australia.At least there is work there and they speak the language

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