Brendan Smith urges US immigration reform and a special envoy
Deputy Brendan Smith called on President Biden to press for US immigration reform, highlighting the stalled E3 visa and urging the appointment of a special envoy to Northern Ireland. He warned that Irish advocacy groups estimate up to 10,000 people in the United States remain undocumented and in precarious situations, especially during the pandemic.
Immigration reform appeal
Deputy Smith urged that the issue be kept on the agenda, stressing the urgency of regularising status for people working and rearing families in the United States. He emphasised the need for ongoing engagement with the US administration to progress migration reform.
Undocumented Irish in the United States
He cited Irish advocacy estimates that there could be up to 10,000 people in the United States whose position is not regularised and who are referred to as undocumented. He warned that the pandemic has exposed how precarious that status can be for individuals and families.
E3 visa and legislative hurdles
Deputy Smith recalled that the last time the E3 visa bill was near passage it was stopped at the last minute by a single senator's objection. He noted that migration reform was very close some years ago and missed by one vote, arguing the matter should be brought back onto the legislative agenda.
Request for a special envoy to Northern Ireland
He called on President Biden to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland, saying that intense bilateral contact and development of relations would benefit the people of Northern Ireland and the United States.
Government response and embassy efforts
The Taoiseach responded that consulates and the embassy in Washington are doing everything possible to encourage US representatives to move forward with migration reform. The Taoiseach acknowledged that migration reform is difficult within the American political system but said the government will continue to pursue the issue.
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The fact that you raised again with President Biden the need to make progress in regard to immigration reform. We're aware that the last time the E3 visa bill was stopped in its tracks at the last minute by one senator objecting. Now the Irish advocacy groups estimate that there could be up to 10,000 people in the United States who have not their position regularised, who are referred to as undocumented. We know how precarious that can be when a pandemic hits. Those people are working hard, contributing to society. society rearing families in many instances. So it's very important that this issue is kept on the agenda. And one other issue that I would like to see kept on the agenda is the need for President Biden to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland. That intense contact development of bilateral relations will be for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland and the United States as well. Thank you, I can call it a perspective. Deputy Smith raised the issue again of the undocumented. And as I said, our consulates and embassy in the embassy in Washington is doing everything we possibly can to try and encourage representatives to move forward with migration reform. But it is very much a factor of American democracy and American political system at the moment that migration reform isn't easy. We were very close some years ago. One vote in the difference in terms of the E3. And we would hope we could get that back on the table and back on the agenda. to get that done. So we will continue to pursue that.
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