By John J. Gallagher

THE Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) that began in New York has turned from a snowball into an avalanche of support in the last three months. Over 1,000 San Francisco residents turned up for a meeting on immigration reform last Thursday night to support the proposed Kennedy/McCain immigration bill that will be debated in the Senate this week.

The public meeting hosted by the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center, an advice center for Irish immigrants, petitioned the crowd to make themselves heard in the Senate. “They have the power to change our lives. The U.S. government needs to hear your voice,” said Kelly Fincham, executive director ILIR.

Fincham urged the crowd to contact California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to ask for their support for the Kennedy/McCain bill. “Get friends and family to contact them, use the phone, use the fax,” said Fincham. “We need to remind Americans of the contribution the Irish have made. We’ve earned it, we deserve it.”

The meeting held in San Francisco’s United Irish Cultural Center follows similar events across the U.S. in Queens, Yonkers, Boston and Philadelphia, all of which saw an unprecedented turnout.

Former California State Assemblyman Charlie Meyers, who attended the San Francisco meeting, said, “ I haven’t seen anything like this in the last 20 years.”

As the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on immigration this week, ILIR will hold rallies in Washington, D.C. with bus loads of petitioners expected from the major east coast cities and supporters from California.

Joe Hackett, first secretary at the Irish Embassy in Washington, D.C. who addressed the meeting said, “It is impossible to think of these cities without the Irish contribution.”

The Irish government has endorsed the Kennedy/McCain immigration bill and visiting Irish ministers this month for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will aim to raise awareness of the issue. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will raise the issue with President Bush.

“On St. Patrick’s morning this will be one of the main issues discussed when he meets with him,” said Hackett.

Many recipients of past visas attended the meeting, including Angus McCarty, a winner of a Morrison visa who addressed the crowd.

“As time passes you don’t want to be looking over your shoulder…There are people here who have paid their dues. We’ve paid our dues, we’ve proven ourselves,” said McCarty, a successful businessman who employs over 30 people in residential development projects.

Two undocumented Irish women who gave only their first names spoke at the event. They echoed the thoughts of many that sat in the hall. They said they were in full support of the ILIR and were actively lobbying senators.

Samantha, originally from Dublin, said, “I’m doing it because I love this country. I have a degree in psychology and I’m bartending.” She urged the crowd to “stand together and not be afraid. All we have to do is call.”

While New York Senator Charles Schumer has pledged his support for the Irish lobby, a statement from California Senator Diane Feinstein’s office read, “At present, Senator Feinstein does not support the bill.” A statement from Senator Boxer’s office read, “Senator Boxer is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Craig-Kennedy Ag-Jobs bill. She believes it is a good bill to start with and use as a model for further improvements to our immigration policy.”

With an estimated 40,000 undocumented Irish workers in the U.S., the Irish immigration issue was being overshadowed by fears of a flux of immigration from Mexico and South America.

Bart Murphy, chairman of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, emphasized the value of trade and relations between Ireland and the U.S. “It is our job to put [(Irish immigration) on the radar…There is five times the investment in Ireland, than in Mainland China.”