By Debbie McGoldrick

IN a major development, New York Senator Charles Schumer has pledged his firm support to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) and its quest to secure legal status for the undocumented Irish in the U.S. Schumer, a long-standing friend of the Irish community, is one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress.

Schumer spoke to a packed audience of 900 at ILIR’s town hall meeting in St. Mary’s auditorium in Woodside last Friday night, and left no doubt about where he stands on the issue of legalizing the estimated 40,000-50,000 Irish illegals throughout the U.S.

“I love America, and I truly believe that the more Irish there are here, the better America is,” Schumer said to zealous rounds of applause and two standing ovations. “And I am hopeful that we will eventually emerge with a bill that you all will be very proud of.”

Schumer, chairman of the influential Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and a member of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee that will begin debate on immigration reform next month, said he supports the provisions included in the bill introduced last May by his colleagues Senator John McCain and Edward Kennedy.

The bill, which has been strongly endorsed by ILIR and the Irish government, offers a guest worker program that would grant undocumented residents of the U.S. legal status.

“Kennedy/McCain will be worked on by all of us to get the best possible result,” Schumer said. “Those who are here in an undocumented way must have a path towards earned citizenship.

”I want to make it clear that it should be earned citizenship and not a free ride,” the senator added. “People will have to pay taxes and obey the law and show loyalty to this great country. To say that people should live in the shadows not only hurts them and their families, it also hurts America. And that’s what we’re going to be working on in the Senate.”

Schumer described the immigration bill championed by Congressman James Sensenbrenner and passed by the House in December as “nasty,” and is confident that many of its provisions will be eliminated in the Senate.

“I will do everything I can in the Senate’s Judiciary Committee to make sure the Sensenbrenner bill has a dagger passed through its heart,” Schumer stated.

“The bill is so absurd that if you had an undocumented immigrant dying in the street and a doctor went to help that person, the doctor would be a criminal when in fact the person would really be a saint.”

Schumer was referring to the provision in the House bill that would make it a criminal rather than a civil offense to be undocumented, punishable by a prison sentence. The bill, which does not include a guest worker program, also calls for the elimination of the annual DV-1 green card lottery program that Schumer created in 1994 when he was a member of the House.

“I wrote the Schumer visas for the Irish,” Schumer said. “And people ask me why I worked so hard for them, and it’s not only because I was raised in a neighborhood that was mostly Irish, and not only because the Irish rallied to my side in Brooklyn and went door to door for me . . . it’s because I truly believe in immigration, and I believe in the Irish.

“The worst thing we could do is close the door, not only for those who want to come, but for those who are already here.”

The ILIR juggernaut continues to blaze a trail through Irish communities across the U.S. The group, formed less than three months ago, now boasts close to 5,000 members, making it what ILIR founder and chairman Niall O’Dowd called the second largest Irish organization in the U.S., next to the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

ILIR’s next town hall meeting will take place this Thursday, February 23, in San Francisco, followed by what is shaping up to be an unprecedented number of Irish making the trip on buses to Capitol Hill for a day of political lobbying sponsored by ILIR on Wednesday, March 8.

The Irish government continues to play a critical role in the drive to legalize the undocumented. Joe Hackett, first secretary

at the Irish Embassy in Washington, D.C., added to the optimism of Schumer’s speech by saying that politicians in the nation’s capital are hearing ILIR’s message “loud and clear.”

“I can’t tell you the number of Congress members and staffers who say to us, ‘What’s with this Irish group?” Hackett said. “It is an issue that is being heard.”

On March 17, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will make it his priority to dis-cuss the plight

of the undocumented Irish with President George W. Bush during their annual St. Patrick’s meeting in the White House. Bush has expressed support for an earned legalization program in the past for illegals, and Ahern intends to stress how important an issue it is for his government.

“I can tell you that immigration will be at the very top of the list of things the taoiseach will be discussing with the president,” Hackett said.

“The Irish government has been lobbying for over a year . . . we are committed to the undocumented. There is no group of Irish abroad more marginalized than the undocumented community.”

Hackett reiterated the Irish government’s support for the Kennedy/McCain bill, and added that the ILIR lobbying day on March 8 presents a chance for the undocumented community to take charge of their future.

“March 8 is a critical occasion,” Hackett said. “It’s important that we have a sense of optimism. It’s a time of hope and optimism, and realism. Nobody can say with certainty what’s going to eventually happen, but we believe working together, the Irish government, ILIR and the community, we can get this done.”

Ciaran Staunton, ILIR co-founder and vice chair, said that what’s happened to the Irish immigrant community since the heady days of the Donnelly and Morrison visas in the 1980s and early ‘90s is “pure evil.”

“But the people in this room can put an end to that,” he urged. “We’re not going to go home and be driven into our corners. We have got to get out there.”

James Breen, a member of the Dail (Irish Parliament) from Co. Clare, scored plenty of points with the audience when he spoke, particularly when he mentioned the continuing use of Shannon Airport by the U.S. military transporting personnel and supplies — and, some say, prisoners — to and from Iraq. The issue has been a highly contentious one in Ireland, but the Irish government has continued to allow U.S. access despite strong public criticism.

“Many Irish people are not happy about Shannon,” Breen said in a thundering voice, “but I say to America, okay, use Shannon, we’ll support you. But now I think it’s time to give us something in return. It’s time to legalize our Irish!”

ILIR president Grant Lally, a Long Island-based attorney with strong ties to the Republican Party, told the audience that President Bush is “very concerned about the undocumented in this country becoming legal.” He added that the campaign to legalize all the undocumented in the U.S., estimated at 11 million, is gaining momentum.

“There is definitely support in the Congress, Senate and governors across the nation supporting the legalization of the Irish and immigration reform,” he said. Lally also read a letter from Senator Sam Brownback, Republican from Kansas, supporting ILIR’s mission.

ILIR founder and chairman O’Dowd urged as many as possible to make the trip to Washington. “When we get there we are going to say, we’re Irish and we want to be legal,” he said.

“When you think about it, the Irish invented politics in this country. And we invented the Catholic Church here. And we’re not going to get left behind now.”

John Dearie, a former New York State assemblyman for 20 years, talked about the power of a simple phone call.

“I can tell you, it matters what constituents feel,” he said. “It matters if you make that call to your representative or senator. Believe me, they are listening.”

ILIR executive director Kelly Fincham has been working 14-hour days coordinating the activities of the burgeoning group, but as far as she’s concerned, the motto is the more the merrier on March 8.

“Come on down, please, we need your support,” Fincham said. She also praised the number of volunteers who have taken an active role in helping at the town hall meetings and behind the scenes.

Also at the meeting were representatives for New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Governor George Pataki. Spitzer’s rep urged those in the audience who had been victimized by scam immigration practitioner Christine Owad to seek relief from the attorney general’s office.

As usual at ILIR meetings, two undocumented speakers took to the podium to bring home how important ILIR has become in their lives.

“I have made this city my home and I love it here,” Samantha said. “I have a degree in psychology but I can’t work at it. It is really, really hard for us, but we have been sticking it out because we love this country.

“There’s no need for us to be ashamed or depressed. We’re going to Washington on March 8, and we’re going to ask for our green cards.”

Mary, who has lived here as an illegal alien for 16 years, echoed her sentiments.

Though she went to college here in the 1990s and earned a nursing degree, she is unemployable in the field because of her legal status.

“As each year passes I’m praying and hoping that I can live my life to the fullest here as a normal person,” she said. “After studying hard and paying my bills I can’t fulfill my dreams of becoming a nurse.

“That’s all I want,” she added. “We want to be taken seriously so that all of us can live the American dream.”