People who came here as illegal immigrants should not be treated more adversely than their Irish counterparts who had entered the US irregularly in search of work, said Dr Mary Henry (Ind). Noting the Government's intention to introduce emergency legislation to penalise those who employed illegal immigrants here, she recommended a debate on the treatment of illegals in the US over the last two or three decades and on the penalties imposed on US employers.
"I am thinking particularly of those who went to America as economic emigrants, because I am quite sure we would not want to in any way treat anyone who came here illegally in any worse manner than members of the Irish population have been treated in the US," said Dr Henry.