NY mayor supports campaign for illegal Irish
The mayor of New York has pledged his support for the campaign to get citizenship rights for illegal Irish immigrants in the United States.
Michael Bloomberg was speaking during a visit to Ballymote in Co Sligo, where is unveiling a monument that incorporates some of the original steel from the Twin Towers.
The monument is dedicated to the Fighting 69th Regiment, which was led during the American Civil War by Sligoman Michael Corcoran.
Mr Bloomberg was awarded a civic reception when he arrived in the area today and, speaking to well-wishers, he said he supported a common-sense approach to immigration laws.
"I know there are many Irish-born New Yorkers who are caught in the trap of our federal immigration policies," he said.
"If we are going to continue to attract the best and the brightest to the United States, and Ireland has more than it's fair share, we need to inject some common sense into our immigration laws and I'm doing my best to make that case in Washington DC."
