Obama paves way for illegal Irish immigrants to visit home

President Barack Obama yesterday unveiled measures allowing millions of illegal immigrants, including, it is estimated, thousands of Irish, to live and work in the US without the risk of being deported.

The proposals include a relaxation of restrictions allowing qualifying Irish immigrants to travel between the US and Ireland, ending – for some – years of missing important family occasions.

In the face of strong opposition from Republicans in Congress, Mr Obama is bypassing his political opponents with executive actions, lifting the threat of deportation for about five million illegal immigrants.

His administration will begin accepting applications this spring from undocumented migrants who are seeking to avoid deportation.

Mr Obama outlined the actions in a televised address saying: “What I’m describing is accountability – a commonsense, middle ground approach: If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.”

Presidents, as head of the executive branch of government, can issue orders on policy matters if Congress doesn’t support them. In the absence of legislation, Mr Obama will direct immigration enforcement agents to focus on deporting “felons, not families” and to ignore the illegal status of just over four million immigrants who are parents to US-born citizen children or legal permanent residents.

Background checks

The measures apply to those in the US for longer than five years once they pass a criminal background check and their taxes are paid up-to-date.

The US administration will also expand eligibility for “extreme hardship waivers” allowing qualifying illegal immigrants to visit home countries through their US-born children or legally resident spouses.

Waivers to three- and 10-year bars – restrictions that currentlyr stop illegal immigrants re-entering the US if they have outstayed an earlier visa period – will be expanded, a senior administration official said.

"This will have a big effect on our community," said Ciaran Staunton, the New York-based co-founder of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. "Many people will sigh with relief because not only could they not work here legally but they couldn't travel. For anyone who meets both areas this will indeed be a huge day."