Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Donald Trump wants to scrap the J-1 programme

As part of a range of immigration policies the Republican wants to introduce measures that could impact on the Irish in America.

shutterstock_196597025 Shutterstock / Albert H. Teich Shutterstock / Albert H. Teich / Albert H. Teich

IF DONALD TRUMP makes it to the White House it could mean the end of the J-1 programme.

The Republican presidential candidate has released his immigration reform policies in which he targets the programme which is a rite of passage to thousands of Irish students each year.

A part of a range of immigration policies he wants to introduce, it states:

“The J-1 visa jobs program for foreign youth will be terminated and replaced with a resume bank for inner city youth provided to all corporate subscribers to the J-1 visa program.”

The J-1 Visa allows full-time third level students to enter the US on a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.

Students are allowed to travel to the USA and work there legally for up to four months.

The programme has hit the headlines in the US, with some criticising the behaviour of Irish students.

Just this summer, following the Berkeley balcony tragedy, the former Irish president Mary McAleese hit back at the New York Times newspaper for branding Irish students with a “lazy tabloid stereotype”.

The newspaper had claimed the visa programme was an “embarrassment for Ireland”.

shutterstock_283689917 Shutterstock / Andrew Cline Shutterstock / Andrew Cline / Andrew Cline

Other reforms Trump wants to impose could also impact on the Irish living abroad in the states. These include:

  • Deport every immigrant living in the US without permission. Trump goes significantly further than his Republican opponents here, suggesting that the US needs to deport all immigrants living in the US illegally, and take preventative measures to ensure that no one emigrates to the US illegally.
  • Prevent visa overstays. Trump proposes criminal penalties for those that overstay on their Visa. He said that millions of people come to the United States on temporary visas but refuse to leave, without consequence. “This is a threat to national security,” he said.
  • Enact a nationwide e-verify program. The measure — which was part of the immigration reform package that passed the US Senate in 2013 — would allow employers to check to digitised program to see if a potential employee was legally allowed to work in the US.
  • End birthright citizenship. This is a proposal that’s been gaining steam with some conservative Republicans in Congress. His policy states “no sane country” would give automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants. 

Under the Obama administration strides have been made in immigration reform that could benefit the Irish living in America.

Obama has quite a different view to Trump. On St Patrick’s Day this year President Obama said he and Taoiseach Enda Kenny shared the view that one of the great strengths of the US is its willingness to welcome new immigrants to its shores.

He said that nobody has contributed more to the growth and dynamism of the US economy than Irish immigrants.

During his visit to the White House in March, Kenny confirmed he had discussed visa waivers that would allow illegal Irish immigrants to travel to and from Ireland and the US freely.

Additional reporting from Business Insider 

Read: Gardaí want to talk to the people who stopped for the man killed when cutting a hedge in Sligo last week>

Read: CCTV shows ‘some suspects’ at Bangkok blast that killed 20>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
103 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Melissa OHara
    Favourite Melissa OHara
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 11:06 PM

    I used to be good at geography. Then they changed everything! ;)

    230
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kevinhunt101
    Favourite kevinhunt101
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:04 PM

    10, though I did guess 1 I hadn’t a clue, Vaduz?

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr Snrub
    Favourite Mr Snrub
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:49 PM

    @kevinhunt101: 9 because Vaduz couldn’t be in Andorra

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liz O'Neill
    Favourite Liz O'Neill
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 1:08 AM

    I’ve actually been to Nuuk.,back in the eighties There was a museum of mummified Inuits and one supermarket. Perversely the bus had a sign prohibiting travellers from eating iced lollies on board. As if they’d want to…

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gillian O'Coinne
    Favourite Gillian O'Coinne
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:04 PM

    7 out of ten. Not bad.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:22 PM

    -3 out of 10

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Roche
    Favourite Brian Roche
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:49 PM

    Got the Greenland one right because I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty last night

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Setanta Stylfox
    Favourite Setanta Stylfox
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:21 PM

    10 out of 10

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Moroney
    Favourite Gerard Moroney
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:25 PM

    @Setanta Stylfox:

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kevin mc cormack
    Favourite kevin mc cormack
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 12:42 AM

    @Setanta Stylfox: please do the Lottery next week I’ll pay for it

    13
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Doyle
    Favourite Joan Doyle
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 8:11 AM

    @Setanta Stylfox: with a name
    like that you shouldn’t get lost ?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm de Cleir
    Favourite Colm de Cleir
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 12:03 AM

    7/10 is “Middlin”? I’m sure I’ve gotten less than that before and been “Fintastic”!

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nollaig Kelly
    Favourite Nollaig Kelly
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 12:51 AM

    @Colm de Cleir: I also got 7 out of 10 but said I was grand

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid #STAYATHOME
    Favourite Diarmuid #STAYATHOME
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:40 PM

    10/10. Greenland was a total guess though

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anto Whelan
    Favourite Anto Whelan
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:45 PM

    10 easy

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Kev in Kevlar
    Favourite The Kev in Kevlar
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 1:26 AM

    Vaduz is awesome,stayed there for a night while driving around Europe..so small all the light flash yellow constantly xD

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Roche
    Favourite Brian Roche
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 10:49 PM

    Got the Greenland one right because I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty last night

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm de Cleir
    Favourite Colm de Cleir
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 12:03 AM

    @Brian Roche: I got it right because the second option made it obvious the author was making a joke about the first one. ..

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Power
    Favourite Ger Power
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 11:04 AM

    Geography always been my strong subject, an easy 10/10. Watching Ireland playing away games also helped.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan McDonald
    Favourite Alan McDonald
    Report
    May 16th 2021, 11:53 PM

    9

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pierre Maanen
    Favourite Pierre Maanen
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 8:49 AM

    10/10

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel
    Favourite Noel
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 1:05 PM

    8/10 should have really got that Portugal question right to make 9/10. Would have never got that Greenland one though.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ed
    Favourite Ed
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 11:24 AM

    I saw a video of Conan O’Brien in Nuuk. It was quite humourous.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bennasi84
    Favourite Bennasi84
    Report
    May 17th 2021, 10:59 AM

    9/10 fooking Greenland

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds