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IRISH IMMIGRANTS WHO are in the US illegally but don’t have serious criminal records could be shielded from deportation under a policy change being weighed by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
The change, if adopted following a review ordered by President Barack Obama, could limit removals of immigrants of any nationality who have little or no criminal record but have committed repeat immigration violations such as re-entering the country illegally after having been deported, or failing to comply with a deportation order.
The possible move, confirmed by two people with knowledge of the review, would fall short of the sweeping changes sought by activists.
Illegals
They want Obama to expand a two-year-old program that grants work permits to certain immigrants brought here illegally as children to include other groups, such as the parents of any children born in the US.
John Sandweg, who until February served as acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said he had promoted the policy change for immigrants without serious criminal records before his departure and said it was being weighed by Johnson.
An immigration advocate who has discussed the review with the administration also confirmed the change was under consideration. The advocate spoke on condition of anonymity because the proceedings are confidential.
“Any report of specific considerations at this time would be premature,” Clark Stevens, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said yesterday.
Stevens said Johnson “has undergone a very rigorous and inclusive process to best inform the review,” including seeking input from people within DHS as well as lawmakers of both parties and other stakeholders.
The approach outlined by Sandweg and the immigration advocate would change the existing priority categories that now include immigrants who have re-entered the country after having been deported previously, and those who are fugitives from immigration proceedings. Such people would be taken off the priority list.
Crimes
The remaining priority categories focus on recent border-crossers and immigrants who pose a danger to national security or public safety or who have been convicted of crimes. Some of those categories might also be refined or changed, and others could be added.
“The time had come to focus ICE’s efforts exclusively on public safety and national security,” Sandweg said in explaining why he pushed for the change. He estimated that some 20,000 deported immigrants fell into the categories in question last year.
The potential changes come as Johnson proceeds with a review ordered by Obama on how to make deportation policy more humane.
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Honestly…. I understand the hardships that has caused many to seek a better life in the US. However, their act was a gamble. They knew if they were caught they would be deported. Furthermore, they knew on the onset that entering the US without a Visa was illegal or over staying their Visa was illegal.
I don’t agree with any US action that permits any person from any country to illegally live in the US. As I don’t agree with any person from any country to live in Ireland.
If whomever, want take residence in any place… Then they should use the proper channels.
Marlon. I fully agree. How is it fair to those that have jumped through all the hoops to get a visa/green card to live and work legally and then turn around to them and say it was all for nothing. People piss and moan about illegal immigrants here in Ireland but those same people expect others like the US and Australia to allow our illegals to live and work freely.
Lads
I agree that going through the proper channels is the right thing to do.
Countless undocumented Irish worked their fingers to the bone especially in NY and were the backbone of society. Let’s not forget they also paid taxes using bogey social security numbers and the government turned a blind eye to it. It’s only since 9\11 that there has been a crack down.
Glen. It doesn’t matter that they worked hard. It gives two fingers to those that did it the legal way. And in reality this has very little do do with the undocumented Irish. This is more about undocumented Mexicans and other Latins. The US could take in the entire population of this Island and it would hardly cause a blip in their demographics. The Democratic Administration see this as a vote winner in the up coming mid terms. This is also why the fervently oppose voter ID’s.
Glen, Irish workers were the backbone of society? ?
More so than Jews, Poles, Italians, Mexicans etc? Hardly.
Cop on!
@Mick, not everyone had the resources to go through the proper channels but that should not exclude them from wanting a better life. Undocumented Irish worked hard in USA and should be recognised and represented.
Mr Phil. If that is the case then every 1st world country should scrap it’s immigration laws and allow everyone and any one in.
Mr Phil, tough!
Eh Mick we’re talking about the USA here, a country that was founded by immigrants. Anyway to exclude the people who took the back door route for whatever reasons won’t solve the the problem.
@Mick… With you on this one.
@Tommy, your the same Mick no coffee today maybe, most of the undocumented did go through the proper channels but their visas ran out and/or they re-entered after being deported for such, probably because they had made a life there and needed to get back.
But why should the US scrap their immigration law just to suit those that have chosen to initially ignore it? Why should they allow hundreds of thousands of unskilled labour pile into already over crowded cities? How do they gain from that?
@Mick… Regardless of how the country came into being. There is no excuse for breaking anyone’s immigration laws. Additionally, America has included a number of ways to enter the country if a person’s circumstances is bad. With this said… Certain requirements and procedures crust be adhered to gain admission.
There should be no excuse for breaking the law.
So what Phil! Visas expire. Either get another one or get out.
Yea that’s it Tommy leave the wife and kids there if your visa re-application fails. I think the fact the issue is constantly been raised is because it’s recognised the hardships some of these undocumented are under and your only solution is to throw them to the wolves.
@Mr Phil…. Because a person’s Visa runs out isn’t there responsibility of the US or any other country. There are several types of Visas that a person can apply. In most cases the Visas are for a period of time before expiring.
This is a known fact.
If the person builds a life with someone and has children. .. They did so knowing that their Visa would ultimately expire.
The person should have stayed in their home country if they wanted to start a life for themselves. Or took the Visa with the understanding that they would eventually have to return to their home country.
Your scenario isn’t a reason to break the law. If the person built a home and their Visa has expired. Then they must go. .. With or without their family. Unless they have a mitigating factor that the government must take under consideration.
@Marlon, Ideally you have a point but we don’t live in an ideal world, so the fact remains the situation needs to be handled and resolved, I rest my case.
@Mr.Phil.Officer, how many years have you been an illegal immigrant? How many thousands in tax have you dodged paying as an illegal immigrant?
Just because someone has gotten away with breaking the law for a long period of time, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t eventually be subject to that law.
So what do you propose to solve the problem Daisey?
As I’m not an American legislator, it’s not really up to me, but I don’t believe Irish illegals should be treated any differently to Mexican illegals. Deport them back to where they came from.
I don’t understand why Irish illegals think they are any different to Chinese, Mexican or any other nationality…
There aren’t but there are better lobbyists for the Irish groups.
They’re not. But its human nature to try everything at your disposal to provide for yourself and your family. Some arbitrary lines drawn on a map by some other people isn’t gonna stop that survival instinct.
I consider it undignified that our government is constantly lobbying a foreign government to take in our illegal immigrants. If they’re illegal, they should be kicked out – same as for the Mexicans. It’s time Ireland started looking after our own citizens instead of begging other countries to look after them instead.
At least they’re doing something for people who had to leave the country that couldn’t provide them with jobs in the first place, yet weren’t able to get in and get hired legally. If the Irish government had been doing what they were supposed to be doing in the first place, we wouldn’t have such a large emigration problem.
No nation on earth has such a large emigration problem, including lots of nations both poorer and in worse financial straits than us. We’re addicted to emigrating. Stay at home and build something here.
Who wants to live in America.
Plenty people…. Hence the number of illegals in the country and those submitting Visas…. These are the folks who want to live in the US.
I thought the same frank, who’d want to live in the states, the most socially engineering country on the planet. I’d rather Ireland for all its faults. Any accounts I’ve heard of America have been of pure hardship, crazy working hours, feck all annual leave, hire and fire mentality, terrible food/diets, dumbed down society. no way.
*engineered*
I would choose other places ahead of the US, but the sheer ignorance of your comment is incredible.
You just generalised over 300 million people by saying they eat terrible food and are dumb. How ridiculous…bet you haven’t ever even stepped foot in the states.
@Simon…. There are Pros and Cons about living anywhere. There are great things about living here in Ireland and there are some really serious issues that needs addressing. Regardless, no one is forcing anyone to relocate to the US and there is no one forcing anyone to relocate to any other place in the world.
Just because you don’t like the way of life in America…. Then don’t consider it as a place for yourself.
yes I have actually. I’ve also spent considerable time living in 5 or 6 countries. I’m generalising by the way and pointing out the reasons I wouldn’t live there. They spout the american dream but the truth is it hasn’t been a dream in a long long time.
I lived in the US between 1998 and 1993 when it was coming towards its tail end of being called “the land of the Free”. I got in under the Donnelly NP5 Visa program. Back then there was a quality of life, a chance of moving up the ladder and a place full of surprises.
Since 9/11 the country has been on the decline down the slippery slope of totalitarian fascism. One only has to look at what the police are wearing and driving today compared to 1991. A good mate of mine returned two years ago afters spending 25 years in Boston, said he would never go back and agreed totally about the police state. .
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/64573_504541309586885_1351899132_n.jpg
1989 and 1993..
We should scrap the granny rule for giving out irish passports to yanks too.
I was just in Boston yesterday after living there for 15 years. The Boston Marathon brought a whole other energy. Regardless, what I did note was the brilliant customer service the police officers gave. A sincere happiness which I have never seen here.
After dining and talking with friends who are Boston residence… Life is good and hasn’t changed much since 9/11 except more security.
The world changes…. Society evolves and issues are addressed. This is what happens in the world. If you are used to how things run here in Ireland and then move out of country… Of course, things will be different and adapting will be difficult.
The same with relocating from anywhere else to here. The US has issues and every other country has issues. The scale of issues and the diverse population the American politicians and laws must cater too. Is incredible. There really is no comparison between the US and Ireland.
Marlon, By all accounts Ireland has its issues, in fact I don’t even live there, but in my profession if I moved to the states I’d be worked like a dog for shit pay and taxed to the hilt, healthcare system there is purely about money, the gap between the rich and poor is incredible. They have a teeedle dee tweedle dumb political system where both parties are the exact same and controlled and lobbied by wall st and rich corporations under the guise of democracy. As I said Ireland has its stresses but we have a lot of catching up to match the US in its agenda of transfer of wealth and reduction of civil liberties.
Not sure what profession you’re in Simon but as an immigrant working here in the US my time gets paid up to the last second. All working people depending on the hours they work are given 2 (15 min.minute) coffee brakes in between lunch. I work 12 hours shift and get time and a half after 8. No work place can force me to work overtime if I don’t want to. I truly think sometimes that people over use this rights too much.
@MD.. Thanks… I agree there are trade offs living any where…
For example… When I lived in the US… I was paid a great salary, work 70 hour weeks, and had a two week holiday. I had a great life. I had security… I had healthcare. .. I had everything that anyone could want living in America.
I now live in Ireland. .. My salary is a lot lot lower. I get a month off holiday. I get sub standard healthcare. I pay taxes and I don’t see what the taxes go towards. It’s squandered. .. . I live a good life in Ireland.
My point…. America… Ireland…. There is no way to compare. You can live a good life in either country…. Especially if you learn to live within the norms of that country.
ABOUT TIME !
That looks like the Italian Flag.
Deport them all ! We need them back!!
Sorry but i hate when people move abroad.
Why? Jealousy?
Haha no not jealous
I done the oz year and couldnt wait to get home. I just found it very sad that the irish were slatting ireland calling it a kip and saying they were never coming home.. i just find it sad.
Besides the government ripping us off and all the stupid taxes they bring in i absolutly love ireland!
The crack is stronger when we are all together.
#feelingsentimental
So because you couldn’t make a life for yourself somewhere else, you want to punish the people who have? Yeah, you’re great craic altogether!
@Bernie… You can love something so much that you can become blinded by the truth.
There is a lot of positive about Ireland. And there are a lot of things that are not positive about Ireland. This is the way it is about any country.
You spent a year in oz , probably spent the year in bondi junction getting on the p.ss with the rest of the one yearers , saw feck all of the country and then went back telling everyone how sh.t it was . We se lots of you come and go , but those of us that have made a life for ourselves here wouldn’t change it for anything . The quality of life I have here is I couldn’t even dream if having in Ireland .
Since a lot of Irish [and Scottish] immigrants immigration/naturalization in the USA.came to the USA legally 1700′s-1900′s, and there are relatively few left in Ireland [or Scotland] , they must surely all be relatives here and there and so, entitled to legal naturalization. Yes, they have been back and forth between USA and Ireland [Scotland] just as if Ireland [and Scotland] were a “state” of the USA. One might even consider inviting them to a closer relationship in future with trade etc issues being in common interest to collaborate.
Ireland [and Scotland ] are beautiful, great place to “change careers” , start a new small business, or take summer vacations to escape the jet-set fast-paced lifestle daily routine. People are nice, well-mannered and well educated as well. A bit of peace and quiet and human decency goes a long way as well.In summary, opening borders officially between Ireland [Scotland] and the USA would be great for people…could leave politicians to argue about the rest. Last weekend, an intelligent person on Radio 4 actually discussed the history of “nation state/” “city state” et al. forms of organization of people for ‘governing’ and …since there is no such thing as a homogenuous social group country anymore, if there ever were, then perhaps “Democracy” begs for a new form of managing resources needed for people to live their lives. We have incredible computing power to manage all such things, we are only limited by the intelligence and innovative thinking and hard work of those who govern to figure out something which is socioeconomically manageable and which works …climate change mandates they start managing the planet/resources/activities just to keep earth sustaining Life and the population, which actually must must must be done immediately now anyway before people start playing ‘musical chairs’.
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