By April Drew

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house last Friday evening at the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) meeting at St. Barnabas in Woodlawn, when two Irish undocumented women addressed a mass congregation of 1,100 immigration reform supporters.

Samantha Melia and Mary Brennan were brave enough to stand tall and share their heartfelt stories with others who find themselves in the same circumstances.

“I know exactly how they feel, I’m here myself seven years without papers and have only been home twice. It’s so hard at the best of times but coming up to Christmas is the worst of all,” said Patricia from Tipperary after hearing Melia and Brennan talk.

Melia, 31, from Co. Dublin, cried when she seized the microphone, “I’m staying in the U.S. for yet another Christmas because I believe the battle for the Irish green cards is too important to just give up on,” she said in a voice tight with emotion.

Brennan, 39, from Co. Kerry, brought the house to a standstill when she described the tragic death of her brother in a car accident earlier this year.

“I wasn’t able to go home to my own brother’s funeral,” she said, adding that her mother had pleaded with her not to risk losing her home in the U.S.

Brennan has been undocumented for 16 years and calls New York home now. “ But it’s not real home if you’re not free,” she reminded a very attentive audience.

The church, crammed with Irish undocumented immigrants and their supporters, got the pleasure of hearing Senator Charles Schumer, nicknamed “King of the Senate,” speak. He wholeheartedly promised to pass immigration reform this coming year.

“It can be done and it will be done this coming year,” he said, receiving an eruption of applause from the crammed church.

At the mere mention of Schumer’s name the crowd erupted and began chanting “Ole Ole.” As soon as he took his place on stage the senator also joined in. The chant wasn’t long turning into repetitive cheers of “Schumer, Schumer.” The New York senator was escorted through the masses by sounds of Irish bagpipers and NYPD officers.

“Without the Irish this would be very difficult to get done,” Schumer said.

“I really believe that this man knows what he is talking about and I have full faith that he will get an immigration bill passed for us this year,” said Peadar Crowley, who has been undocumented for four years.

ILIR Vice Chairman Ciaran Staunton said, “I thought the roof would come off when Senator Schumer (whose nickname is Chuck) said Tiocfaidh ár lá (our day will come). It was an emotional night, one that I feel meant an awful lot to the Irish who came.”

At one point in the evening a couple of kids played noisily on the stage before they were removed by their parents. Pointing to them and other kids who were sitting on the steps of the stage, Staunton pointed out, “These are the people we are fighting for, the next generation of Irish in America. We can’t let them down and force their parents to go home. They need their American dream.” The remark brought the house down.

Accompanying Schumer was Congressman Anthony Weiner. Living up to his reputation, Weiner added some drama and charisma to wow the crowd, by standing up steadfastly, removing his expensive suit jacket and swiftly and proudly putting on a Legalize the Irish.org t-shirt, the same garment worn by three quarters of the audience present.

ILIR founder and chairman Niall O’Dowd forewarned that ILIR needs to go back to Washington once if not twice in the New Year. This was met by cheers of support and promises from the undocumented and immigration reform supporters present.

“I’ve been to Washington before and I’ll be there as many more times as needed until I get legal,” assured an undocumented after the rally.

ILIR Executive Director Kelly Fincham praised the volunteers, saying they were the real reason behind ILIR’s success. “Every time you show up, every time you put on the Legalize the Irish T-shirt, you make a huge impact. If there is any community that deserves this, it’s this community who keeps coming out to be counted,” said Fincham.

She paid special tribute to the group of ILIR volunteers who went to the “sham hearings” set up all over the country and who came face to face with anti immigration protestors.

“Our volunteers stood there and took it and as a result of their persistence every single senator and congressman in this country has seen our Legalize the Irish t-shirts,” she said.

The listeners were also delighted to hear from Bruce Morrison, founder of the Morrison visas back in 1996. “He legalized 48,000 Irish in the past and it’s great to have him on board this journey again,” said a member of the audience, who only identified herself as Shelly.

“The meeting was very positive and I’m glad I came,” said Declan Sheehan from Limerick. “It was clear from tonight that action is being taken on an issue that we thought we may have lost back in the summer. Having a great political figure like Schumer on our side makes all the difference,” he said.