50,000 Irish people to be protected against deportation from America – Perry

Fine Gael Sligo North Leitrim TD, John Perry has welcomed President Obama’s announcement to protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation, saying that 50,000 Irish Americans are set to benefit.

“I am delighted at President Obama’s plan which will lift the threat of deportation from up five million undocumented immigrants in America. 50,000 Irish Americas are set to benefit from the new rules which will allow them work and travel more freely within the United States.

“More importantly for us here in Ireland, the new rules could allow them to visit home in cases of family emergencies. Over many decades countless Irish emigrants have been unable to travel home from the States to visit their families for fear of being deported on their return. We have heard many sad stories of people missing funerals of loved ones and other such important family occasions.

“It is great that we finally have a US President willing to act on this and I President Obama for doing so. The new system will allow undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, known as green card holders, to legally live and work in the country for a period of three years. This is a real step forward for immigration reform in America.

“The undocumented Irish in the US have lived in the shadows for far too long and this is a time of great celebration for them now. America is where they call home and they just want to be able to live normal lives, to work and contribute to American society through their taxes.”