Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP raises the need to legislate for the undocumented Irish with senior US politicians

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said today that "the legal status of the undocumented Irish in America needs to be placed at the very top of the political agenda in the US Congress."

Mr. Gallagher was in Washington DC last week for high level meetings with members of the US Congress on behalf of the European Parliament's European Economic Area delegation.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said "While in Washington, I used the opportunity to raise the issue of the undocumented Irish with prominent US politicians. There are approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States of America, of which at least 50,000 are from Ireland."

"To the anguish of many families across Ireland, the undocumented cannot return home to Ireland to attend a wedding, a funeral, visit family and friends for fear that they will be unable to return to the US."

"The last serious effort to reform US immigration rules was the McCain / Kennedy joint initiative which was defeated in 2007. However, there is real hope within the Irish community in America that the Obama administration can finally resolve the issue."

"I welcome the efforts of Senator Chuck Schumer from New York who is leading the charge in the US Congress to put immigration reform back onto the political agenda."

"I met with representatives from the Irish Immigration Pastoral Centre (IIPC) from San Francisco including Fr Brendan McBride. The IIPC are acutely aware of the difficulties being faced by many Irish citizens in the States."


"I also raised the issue of the undocumented Irish with Senator John Kerry, former Congressman Bruce Morrison who co-sponsored the US Immigration Act of 1990 and the office of Senator Chuck Schumer."


"I also intend to raise the issue of the undocumented Irish with William Kennard, the US Ambassador to the European Union upon my return to Brussels next week."

ENDS
21/03/2010