Blair, Ahern urged to lobby Bush on emigrants
Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern should lobby US President George W Bush to relax laws which prevent Irish emigrants from returning home each Christmas, they were urged today.
SDLP Assembly member Eugene McMenamin called on the British and Irish leaders to use their influence with the White House to help illegal emigrants in the US from both sides of the border who are not able to return to their families each Christmas.
The West Tyrone MLA argued: “Many people across this island would love to welcome their loved ones home this Christmas from the United States, but unfortunately for many who are forced to live as illegal emigrants that will not happen.
“Many Irish people have travelled and set up home in the United States. The tight legislation to obtain a long-term visa, however, has resulted in many Irish people living in America illegally.
“These Irish are not sponging off America. On the contrary, illegal immigrants are not entitled to any benefits and have to pay for their healthcare.
“The contribution the Irish make to American life, economy and community there cannot be underestimated.”
Although some Irish emigrants have returned across the Atlantic following the success of the Republic’s Celtic Tiger economy, there are still hundreds of thousands of people living illegally in the United States.
Mr McMenamin urged the White House to recognise the Irish community’s role in helping shape the US.
“It now time President Bush gave something back to the Irish people living America,” the SDLP Assembly member said.
“I’m calling on the Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern to use their influence with the American President to persuade him to review the visa application process for long-term Irish residents.”
