The circumstances of undocumented, illegal Irish emigrants in the US have been made even more difficult following changes in the law there, the Bishop of Derry, Séamus Hegarty, said yesterday.
He said their plight is compounded as changes in legislation have succeeded in making them feel more insecure and vulnerable and many are considering returning home.
Bishop Hegarty said those who remain wait in hope for legislative amendments that will give consideration to the 10-12 million undocumented people from a variety of national backgrounds, based in the United States.
Chairman of the Irish Bishops' Commission for Emigrants, Bishop Hegarty was speaking in Washington DC at a conference on immigration. Bishop Hegarty and Fr Alan Hilliard, director of the Commission for Emigrants, are on a six-day visit to Irish emigrant centres in the US.
Speaking of the undocumented Irish they had met in the past week, Bishop Hegarty said he had been touched by their warm and encouraging feedback.
"They are greatly encouraged that we are taking an interest in their plight. I have been touched deeply by their goodness. They are good citizens: they pay their taxes and contribute to the overall good of American society," he said.
He warmly praised chaplains at the various emigrant centres they visited.For those who cannot return home for family bereavements, the chaplains, along with the local Church, are showing great sensitivity and care in these difficult times, he added.
Bishop Hegarty and Fr Hilliard have met various US bishops on the issue,including Cardinal Egan of New York, Bishop Di Marizio of Brooklyn and Auxiliary Bishop Lennon in Boston.
This weekend they will be liaising with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He was "greatly encouraged" by the US bishops' "commitment to migrants and in particular to the undocumented".
He was similarly encouraged by the efforts of the Irish Government in helping the emigrants and welcomed "other members of the Oireachtas who have made the effort to be here [the US] and will in their own way represent the needs of our Irish people at this important time of legislative reform." The task, he said, was "not an easy one."
He praised "the outstanding contribution of Bishop Raymond Boland", the recently retired Bishop of Kansas who for many years acted as Irish liaison to the US Bishops. "He loved his homeland as a citizen of the US never forgot his Irish heritage," Bishop Hegarty said.
He also welcomed the opportunity the US visit had presented of learning from the American Church "which has gathered great expertise as a receiving Church.
Our expertise is as a sending Church. I am availing of this opportunity to reflect on our duties and obligations towards migrants who are now making Ireland their home," he said.