asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that approximately 700 Irish emigrants responded to the amnesty provision of the 1986 United States Immigration Bill; and the efforts which his Department have made to publicise the amnesty concession to the many undocumented Irish aliens.
Written Answers. - US Immigration Amnesty.
32.
I am aware that a relatively small number of Irish emigrants have applied for an amnesty before the closing date of 4 May 1988 stipulated in US legislation. Deputies will know that the amnesty was applicable only to emigrants who were in the United States before 1 January 1982.
The amnesty provision was widely publicised in the United States by the US authorities, by groups working with Irish emigrants, and by the US media, in particular the Irish American media. In addition our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco have, over the past year, at meetings with Irish-American and immigration organisations drawn attention to the amnesty and to the deadline contained in US law. The Immigration Working Committees that we have established in New York and Boston have also been active on the matter.
I am satisfied that the amnesty provisions were widely known by our citizens in the US and the fact that a small number applied is not due to lack of knowledge or to the absence of publicity.