Posted on 02/28/2007 11:12:23 AM PST by Graybeard58
SAN FRANCISCO In a cozy room above a Russian market and a Shanghai-style restaurant, an Irish nanny gently rocked an American baby.
When the nanny reveals that she hails from the Emerald Isle, she said, American citizens are usually warm and welcoming and many speak proudly of their own Irish heritage.
They don't suspect her secret. They'd never imagine that the San Francisco nanny feels a special bond with millions of others, most from Latin America or Asia, who are illegal immigrants just as she is.
"The Irish are a bit luckier. We speak English, and we tend to get the better jobs," said the $17-an-hour, full-time nanny. She requested anonymity because she feared she and her 8-year-old son could be located and deported.
Next month, in what some call a critical turning point for their cause, the nanny and more than 150 other undocumented Irish and supporters from California will travel to Washington, D.C., to join a rally on March 7 outside Congress.
Donning "Legalize the Irish" T-shirts, they are expected to join thousands to lobby Congress for an increase in work-based immigrant visas and enactment of a program for undocumented workers to earn legal status.
They have powerful allies on Capitol Hill, and they hope to woo more.
Once more numerous, undocumented Irish immigrants are today estimated at about 50,000 nationwide, a number that pales in comparison to Latin Americans, Chinese or Indians, but could be matched, for instance, by undocumented Polish immigrants.
A decline in Irish immigration in recent years is attributed to Ireland's unprecedented economic boom, the so-called "Celtic Tiger."
The European Union has invested billions in grants to develop infrastructure, and the Irish embrace of the high-tech industry is fueling economic growth.
But some Irish arrived in America on tourist visas before the emergence of the Celtic Tiger, staying because they found plenty of work here. Also flocking to the United States are those from less-prosperous Northern Ireland.
In 2005, out of a total of more than 1.1 million people who were granted legal residency, only 2,088 were Irish. Most were married to U.S. citizens or legal residents.
In a separate lottery competition that reserves 50,000 slots a year for people from around the world, only 160 slots were won by Irish in 2006.
The Irish just want a better life and to assimilate into our society.
Let the Irish in, Kick the Mexicans out !
This is sad.
Relative quantities isn't the problem, illegally staying/working in the US is.
I tend to think that quantity is the main problem.
Funny that Bertie Ahern wants Bush to grant an amnesty to Fine Gael voters.....
I've heard that about half of the illegal aliens are from Hispanic countries. Most people don't realize how many illegals here are from Europe, Canada, Australia, Asian countries, etc.
I agree that aggregate quantity is a problem, but not relative quantities. One could say that there are less than 0.1% of illegals who drive a AMC Gremlins. Should we therefore not worry about illegals who drive AMC Gremlins? If we want to reduce the huge aggregate number of illegals, we shouldn't ignore small subsets which make up the whole.
They are still illegal.
He needs to grant immediate citizenship to Gráinne Seoige.
They're both problems.
However, 'relative quantities' is half of the reason it is even being discussed.
The other reason is that our southern enemies think they're getting ancient lands back and will not assimilate under present circumstances.
Depends on what part of the country you live in. On the east coast I've met quite a few people here illegally from every continent except antarctica.
Bertie will go along with that, seeing as she's Mayo, she might just vote for Enda Kenny....
;)
The lack of desire to assimilate into our society coupled with the sheer numbers is the main problem with the southern influx in my humble opinion. Do european or asian illegals refuse to learn the language in such numbers? The answer is no. The logical question is why?
Me thinks you've been "hearing" from a tainted source.
It's estimated that about 80-81% are from south of the border.....56-57% from Mexico, 22-24% from other Latino countries.
You must remember there was an agenda behind the mass exodus of my countrymen post independence - De Valera and his Fianna Fail successors did what Vincente Fox is doing now with Mexico - driving political opponents out of Ireland.
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