If your family or friends live anywhere near
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
ILIR meeting in Queen's New York Tomorrow
Monday, March 22, 2010
Obama promises immigration reform follows health care deal
Yes We Can!
Prospects for immigration reform are suddenly brighter as it looks increasingly likely that a deal on health care will be struck by the Congress and a pledge from President Obama that immigration will be up next.
According to The New York Times the Obama administration has made clear its next two priorities are jobs and immigration reform. In a conversation with wavering Democrats "the president warned that his other priorities — jobs and immigration — would be tougher to achieve if the health bill does not pass." The Times reports.
Obama is quoted saying saying, "If we fail at this it’s going to be harder for us to pull the line on this other stuff. It is going to weaken our presidency.”
But earlier fears, fears that the health bill might be stalled, now seem to be fading and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has clearly become far more confident that she has the 216 votes in the House to pass the legislation.
If that is the case then the president has given his word to the Hispanic caucus that he will make immigration a definite focus. He made it clear at a St.Patrick's party at the White House that he was ready to focus on immigration reform.
Sunday's rally in
Obama would also be greatly strengthened by a health care victory which will inevitably strengthen his hand on immigration too.
" President Obama will prove he can get health care through" predicted Ciaran Staunton president of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. "He is the first president since Roosevelt who has succeeded if he does. Immigration reform can be got through this Congress as well."
There are an estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish citizens in
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Irish American Leaders Push Forward for Immigration Bill
Happily it seems our cause is starting the year on a positive note.
New York-based, Irish Central recently publish an article explaining that the White House had sent out invitations to Irish American Community leaders nationwide to attend a special briefing. The briefing on “comprehensive immigration reform” will take place tomorrow.
To read the full article click here
However here are a couple of uplifting and interesting quotes from the article -
“The administrations objective is to secure Irish political strength to help the forthcoming immigration reform bill through Congress when President Obama is ready to submit it, which sources say will be shortly.”
Stella O’Leary, president of Irish American Democrats was quoted saying “My guess is if President Obama brings in the bill in the spring it will be passed before the November elections. With the help of the Irish, that is!”
Is féidir linn!
New York-based, Irish Central recently publish an article explaining that the White House had sent out invitations to Irish American Community leaders nationwide to attend a special briefing. The briefing on “comprehensive immigration reform” will take place tomorrow.
To read the full article click here
However here are a couple of uplifting and interesting quotes from the article -
“The administrations objective is to secure Irish political strength to help the forthcoming immigration reform bill through Congress when President Obama is ready to submit it, which sources say will be shortly.”
Stella O’Leary, president of Irish American Democrats was quoted saying “My guess is if President Obama brings in the bill in the spring it will be passed before the November elections. With the help of the Irish, that is!”
Is féidir linn!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Hopeful Vigilant and Prepared
I just received the ILIR quarterly update which I thought I would share with you.
ILIR’s message is most certainly a positive one. Their work is continuing and so must ours. Happy New Year to all our members and let us look to immigration reform in 2010.
-----
"Welcome to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform's last quarter report for 2009.
The question on all our minds is what are the chances of Comprehensive Immigration Reform passing in 2010? The best answer we can give is that we are hopeful and remain vigilant, concerned and prepared.
With Healthcare Reform proposals having passed in the House and Senate and heading for likely resolution, we are a step closer in the queue to having Senator Schumer's CIR proposals introduced in Committee and that's the starting point. It will need bipartisan support in the Senate and House to move forward.
And for that to happen, CIR will need willingness to compromise on behalf of the various interest groups. That's where real courage comes in: acceptance of the greater good rather than one's own view of perfection.
You will see from the articles below, ILIR has been very busy these last three months bringing the Irish dimension to the immigration reform debate to various key stakeholders in US politics.
We have received assurances from every one of them of their support for comprehensive reform for the undocumented and the inclusion of an Irish E-3 visa to provide for future migrants. Future meetings are in the works with Senators and Congress members in Montana, Maine, Arizona and Louisiana.
Many thanks to our friends in the Ancient Order of Hibernians for their support and help in these meetings.
In the meantime, local Irish groups have a crucial role to play in positively influencing the build-up to immigration reform. We have included a list of suggestions, detailed below.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do let me know. My email is bart@irishlobbyusa.org
Is Féidir linn!
Happy New Year to you all!
Bart Murphy
Chairman, ILIR "
----
Irish Central – 11th Dec 2009
Senator Robert Menendez pledges support to ILIR
Irish Emigrant – 9th Nov 2009
Congressman Delahunt Pledges Leadership on ILIR Reform Proposals
Irish Echo – 11th Nov 2009
The new Donnelly?
AND
Staff Writer Article
Belfast Telegraph – 12th Oct 2009
Better late than never for Hillary Clinton's Irish love-in
What you can do to help....
As we await the introduction of an immigration reform bill for us to work with, there is work to be done on the local level to ensure that we have support going forward.
In 2006 and 2007, the campaign for comprehensive immigration reform was fought on the national stage but was lost on the local stage. When it came to the crux, Senators followed the wishes of their constituents and the bill was defeated.
Supporters of immigration reform for the Irish undocumented will never be able to out-phone or out-fax the opposition - our numbers are too small while theirs are in the 10's of millions. What we can do is broaden our field of support within the larger Irish American communities throughout the US.
Here is how you can help:
Be realistic about what's happening and what ILIR and the Irish government can do. Playing the blame game is a waste of time.
Turn your Congressman into a leading advocate. Convince him/her that he/she needs to represent the 10,000+ Irish living in his/her community and support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Talk to your local diocese. Irish and Irish American priests should be giving sermons from the altar on Sunday. It is a moral issue to support immigration reform - it's the American way, the Christian way, the Catholic way.
Create a campaign to work on your city politicians, council members, Mayors, trade union leaders - any Irish American in a position of power. You need to demand that these people speak truth to power and not just pay lip service.
Get your elected officials on message - "I represent an Irish community of upwards of 0,000. I support Comprehensive Immigration Reform and you should too."
ILIR’s message is most certainly a positive one. Their work is continuing and so must ours. Happy New Year to all our members and let us look to immigration reform in 2010.
-----
"Welcome to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform's last quarter report for 2009.
The question on all our minds is what are the chances of Comprehensive Immigration Reform passing in 2010? The best answer we can give is that we are hopeful and remain vigilant, concerned and prepared.
With Healthcare Reform proposals having passed in the House and Senate and heading for likely resolution, we are a step closer in the queue to having Senator Schumer's CIR proposals introduced in Committee and that's the starting point. It will need bipartisan support in the Senate and House to move forward.
And for that to happen, CIR will need willingness to compromise on behalf of the various interest groups. That's where real courage comes in: acceptance of the greater good rather than one's own view of perfection.
You will see from the articles below, ILIR has been very busy these last three months bringing the Irish dimension to the immigration reform debate to various key stakeholders in US politics.
We have received assurances from every one of them of their support for comprehensive reform for the undocumented and the inclusion of an Irish E-3 visa to provide for future migrants. Future meetings are in the works with Senators and Congress members in Montana, Maine, Arizona and Louisiana.
Many thanks to our friends in the Ancient Order of Hibernians for their support and help in these meetings.
In the meantime, local Irish groups have a crucial role to play in positively influencing the build-up to immigration reform. We have included a list of suggestions, detailed below.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do let me know. My email is bart@irishlobbyusa.org
Is Féidir linn!
Happy New Year to you all!
Bart Murphy
Chairman, ILIR "
----
Irish Central – 11th Dec 2009
Senator Robert Menendez pledges support to ILIR
Irish Emigrant – 9th Nov 2009
Congressman Delahunt Pledges Leadership on ILIR Reform Proposals
Irish Echo – 11th Nov 2009
The new Donnelly?
AND
Staff Writer Article
Belfast Telegraph – 12th Oct 2009
Better late than never for Hillary Clinton's Irish love-in
What you can do to help....
As we await the introduction of an immigration reform bill for us to work with, there is work to be done on the local level to ensure that we have support going forward.
In 2006 and 2007, the campaign for comprehensive immigration reform was fought on the national stage but was lost on the local stage. When it came to the crux, Senators followed the wishes of their constituents and the bill was defeated.
Supporters of immigration reform for the Irish undocumented will never be able to out-phone or out-fax the opposition - our numbers are too small while theirs are in the 10's of millions. What we can do is broaden our field of support within the larger Irish American communities throughout the US.
Here is how you can help:
Be realistic about what's happening and what ILIR and the Irish government can do. Playing the blame game is a waste of time.
Turn your Congressman into a leading advocate. Convince him/her that he/she needs to represent the 10,000+ Irish living in his/her community and support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Talk to your local diocese. Irish and Irish American priests should be giving sermons from the altar on Sunday. It is a moral issue to support immigration reform - it's the American way, the Christian way, the Catholic way.
Create a campaign to work on your city politicians, council members, Mayors, trade union leaders - any Irish American in a position of power. You need to demand that these people speak truth to power and not just pay lip service.
Get your elected officials on message - "I represent an Irish community of upwards of 0,000. I support Comprehensive Immigration Reform and you should too."
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