Conway welcomes progress in plans to overhaul US immigration law

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has welcomed what he has described as a major step forward in attempts to overhaul US immigration laws. Yesterday in Washington, the US Senate endorsed a proposal to substantially bolster security along the nation’s southern borders as part of a measure that would provide a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

“This procedural vote, which concerned an amendment to ensure that the southern border of the US is secure, has dramatically improved the Bill’s prospects of a safe passage through to enactment. It also offered a preliminary glimpse of how many US Senators would vote for the Bill’s final passage.

“The illegal status of the undocumented Irish is a great hardship on the individuals involved. Thousands of Irish immigrants are living in the US in obscurity, afraid to return home to Ireland. This Bill offers hope that they will not only be able to participate fully in their adopted country, but that they will also be able to return home to Ireland to visit their families.

“Republicans and Democrats are now working on a deal that would allow each Party to bring up ten more amendments each to the final Bill.   I fully support President Obama’s call for speedy action, and I hope US politicians will heed his call that now is the time to do it.”

ENDS