Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome Senator Lawless' family. It is almost ironic that Senator Lawless worked so hard for the undocumented Irish in the US when a briefing was held today by the Migrant Rights Centre. A young woman aged 24, Rashmi, said she left school six years ago and all her friends went to college and now have jobs. She was accepted recently into two colleges, but unfortunately she cannot take up those places because of her status.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality reviewed the migration system in 2016 and made five key recommendations, one of which was the regularisation of undocumented people in Ireland. That received cross-party endorsement. The Government has the power to solve this problem and to provide a pathway to residency for these undocumented children. All it needs to do is introduce a straightforward and sensible mechanism that ensures no child or young person grows up undocumented in Ireland. These young people are our future. Their future is here. This is their home. It is time to welcome them. I agree with Senators Boyhan and Bacik that it is vital we have a debate on this issue to help people.

Here is a quote from another young person:

My home is here in Ireland. I came when I was 7 years old, and now I'm 19. My dream is to attend college, get a degree and find a job. I don't know what to do as I've spent my whole life studying and look forward to attending college only to find out that I can't.

Rashmi's passion is social justice and she would love to study law. It is vital that this issue is addressed.