Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2015
188. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the proposed immigration reform Bill in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35168/15]
View answerAchieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US remains a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., the Irish Government continues to work closely on this agenda with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. The aim of these contacts is to achieve relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and to improve channels for legal migration between Ireland and America. The administrative measures announced last November by President Obama, which could benefit thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants based in the US, were very welcome. However, I am conscious that these administrative measures remain under legal challenge in US Federal Courts and that in any case legislation in Congress is still needed to build on what has been promised in President Obama’s announcement. For that reason, the Government and our Embassy continue to avail of all contacts with the Administration and with Republican and Democratic political leaders to make the case for comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
To that end, in July I met in Dublin with a US congressional delegation led by John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Taoiseach also met with them and we both took the opportunity to re-emphasise the Government’s wish to see comprehensive legislative reform so as to provide relief for the undocumented Irish and a legal pathway to allow for future Irish immigration to the US. Additionally, I raised immigration reform issues when I met with Vice President Biden in Boston on 30 March and I have also discussed these matters on a number of occasions recently with US Ambassador O’Malley.
Most recently, I met with the US administration, members of Congress and Irish community leaders on this issue when I visited New York and Washington DC last week. On foot of these meetings, a Bill is now in the process of being tabled by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner in the US House of Representatives. The Bill will be aimed at providing access to several thousand E3 visas for Irish citizens. I warmly welcome this positive step towards meeting the desire of many Irish people to live and work in the US for a time, but would also point out that there is work to be done in both Houses of Congress before this Bill might become law. I am also aware that while this particular measure would help with our objective of securing improved legal migration channels, it would not address the concerns of undocumented citizens currently in the US. These remain a key priority and continue to be the subject of our ongoing contacts with the US authorities. While the political climate for immigration reform in the US remains difficult, my Government will continue to actively engage with the US Administration, with Congress and with the US Embassy in Ireland.
