By Debbie McGoldrick

Ireland’s political parties gave a unanimous show of support last week for U.S. immigration reform when a motion on the Kennedy/McCain bill was approved without dissent after a lively Dail (Parliament) debate on the undocumented in America.

Last Thursday the Dail discussed a motion championed by Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern on the legislation co-sponsored by Senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy that, if enacted, would provide a path towards legalization for the undocumented. The Irish government estimates that 25,000 of its citizens are residing throughout the U.S. without legal immigration status.

Ahern has been leading the charge towards securing a united Irish government stance towards the issue of U.S. immigration law and how it affects the Irish. Last month Ahern announced a 40% increase in government funding for U.S.-based immigrant advice centres during a trip to New York, where he met with representatives of the groups to hear about their issues and concerns.

Ahern plans a return trip to New York at the end of the month when he will continue his efforts to make sure the undocumented Irish know they haven’t been forgotten about at home.

“The situation facing our undocumented community in the U.S. is of deep concern to the government,” Ahern said in the Dail debate. “The focus which our debate gives to this marginalized group of Irish people, and to their families here at home, is timely and welcome.

“While the numbers settling in the U.S. are nowhere near as high as they once were, there are still many families and communities in Ireland where the connection with America is as strong as ever,” Ahern added. “Overall, the essential problem of the undocumented is not its size. It is the nature of being undocumented and that experience, rather than the number, that should be our focus.”

Speaking about the Kennedy/McCain proposal, Ahern said, “(The undocumented) could regularize their status by applying for a temporary residency visa. They would receive work and travel authorization. They could come out of the shadows and generally enjoy greater peace of mind. Significantly, they could travel to and from Ireland without fear of being refused re-entry.”

Ahern acknowledged that there are other reform bills pending debate in Congress, but gave his firm support to what’s on offer in Kennedy/McCain.

“In addition to our political contacts, our ambassador and diplomats in the U.S. will remain active on this issue and meet regularly with contacts on the Hill,” he said. “In this way we can ensure that our particular concerns are understood and that our strong support for the approach favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain is given due consideration.”

The Dail debate was lively, and occasional barbs passed between representatives of the various political parties — one even suggested that Kennedy/ McCain was “dead on arrival” — but at the end all agreed that something needs to be done to secure a future for the Irish in the U.S.

Ahern also addressed the Irish Seanad (Senate) on Tuesday, where the motion in support of Kennedy/McCain was also passed without dissent.

Last week, Ahern travelled to Derry to meet with the Bishop of Derry, Dr. Seamus Hegarty, chair of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants (IECE).

“It is vital that we offer support to the legislation that will bring the greatest benefit to our Irish people in the U.S., especially those who are undocumented,” Hegarty said.