Ahern Vows Support for Visas

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Ahern Vows Support for Visas

October 4, 2007

By Debbie McGoldrick

THOUGH comprehensive immigration reform has been put on the backburner by Congress until after next year’s presidential election, the Irish government remains firmly committed to finding a solution to the plight of the thousands of undocumented Irish in the U.S., according to Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.

Making his annual visit to New York to participate in UN business, Ahern has tacked on an extra component to his trip this year – a journey to Washington, D.C. to meet with a bipartisan mix of politicians on Capitol Hill to discuss a possible way forward that would take into account both the Irish undocumented presently here, and Irish citizens seeking more favorable opportunities to live and work in the U.S. in the future.

“Obviously we are very disappointed with the turn of events. We had been quite hopeful, but we always knew (reform) was going to be a tough battle,” Ahern said during a press briefing at the Irish Consulate in New York on Tuesday evening.

During his time in New York, Ahern met with representatives of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) and the organization’s many undocumented members whose lives have been thrown into limbo since the Senate failed to pass an immigration bill on two occasions earlier this year. The minister added that his constituency office in Co. Louth receives many calls from families with loved ones living in the U.S. without legal status, and that the government will continue to work towards solving the issue.

During his visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Ahern is scheduled to meet with Senators Edward Kennedy, Patrick Leahy, Lindsey Graham and Charles Schumer, in addition to a number of representatives, including members of the Friends of Ireland group in Congress.

Also set are meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff.

All possible immigration options are on the table, Ahern said, including any reciprocal arrangement that would see Ireland and the U.S. exchange visas for their citizens.

“No doubt there are many more Americans looking to come to Ireland,” Ahern said. “And obviously that would be part of the mix. There are a lot of suggestions as to how we do these bilateral agreements, and we are open to that.”

Ahern promised ILIR leaders earlier this year that he would travel to Washington to personally take up the issue of the undocumented Irish and future reform. “I said I would specifically speak about it and that’s what I’ll do,” he said. “We will be trying to see what avenues are open to us.

“I’ll be looking for their advice as to how to go forward,. If the people I meet confirm that the window of opportunity in relation to the comprehensive legislation is closed for the foreseeable future, what is their advice to us?”

Whatever it takes, Ahern said, the government is prepared to do. “I said to (new Irish ambassador to the U.S. Michael Collins) taking up office that this is an issue we want to give top priority to, “ Ahern said.

“Three years ago we started the ball rolling in relation to this issue because we saw that there was an opportunity there for us to pursue comprehensive reform for once and for all. Now basically we have to work with what we have and pursue any avenue open to us that would be of assistance.

“There is a level of goodwill to Ireland. We will try and use that goodwill.”

Ahern announced a further grant to ILIR of $50,000 for the group to continue its lobbying efforts, bring the total amount of government assistance to $183,000. The minister also confirmed a grant of $25,000 for the Commodore Barry Club of Philadelphia.

Ahern’s UN speech delivered on Tuesday afternoon focused heavily on the success of the Irish peace process which has seen devolved government return to the North, and power-sharing between the parties.

“It has been my duty, and that of my predecessors as minister for foreign affairs, to brief this Assembly on the search for peace on the island of Ireland,” Ahern said. “I am delighted to report that, perhaps save for general updates on progress, this will no longer be necessary.

“The task is no longer to find peace, but to maintain and build on the peace we have found. I do not believe our success offers a universally transferable formula.

“But I do believe that our experience of failure and then success for over 40 years provides insights and lessons worth sharing.

“Working with a strengthened UN and sharing lessons with one another, I passionately hope that we can advance the day when political leaders from other regions of the world blighted by conflict can announce in this forum that peace has come to them too.

“Northern Ireland,” Ahern added, “has been added to the list of conflicts resolved.”

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