Fine Gael in Donegal
has said the defeat of the immigration reform bill
in the US Senate was a deep disappointment for
undocumented Donegal people in the States.
“The defeat of this bill is a huge blow to the
campaign to regularise the status of undocumented
Irish in the US," said Deputy Dinny McGinley.
"The focus will now shift to the primaries ahead of
the impending presidential election which will mean
that the re-introduction of relevant legislation
could be as much as two years away."
Deputy McGinley said the Irish Government must now
be "more pro-active" in pleading the case of the
Irish living and working in the US without legal
status.
"I believe they could initiate discussions with the
US administration with a view to having a bi-lateral
arrangement on immigration between Ireland and
America.
“As a nation our credit rating is high in America,
having co-operated on many issues and having such a
strong tradition of Irish-American links.
"It is essential that we find a way to strike a deal
because waiting for legislative developments
following this desperately disappointing blow is
simply too long to wait for these Irish people who
remain in legal limbo.” |
