Written answers

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Diaspora Issues

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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662. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of and position regarding efforts being made relating to the undocumented Irish persons in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33061/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The issue of Irish immigration, particularly the status of the undocumented Irish in the US, has been a high priority for successive Governments and continues to be one of my key priorities. Immigration issues have been raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with the US Administration and political leaders, including by the then Taoiseach during his St. Patrick's Day visit to the White House in March, and more recently by the Taoiseach in high level calls to members of the US Administration. I have also raised immigration issues in recent contacts with Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney, with the US Ambassador, as well as with members of the US Administration and both Houses of Congress during my visit to Washington D.C. at the end of September.

In the US, our Embassy and Consulates General across the country continue to monitor the situation closely and to engage with US officials on immigration issues, including with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They also actively support Irish community groups that provide support and information to vulnerable Irish and the undocumented. Many of these community groups are members of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres, which receives significant annual funding through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme for their work.

In 2019, over €3m ($3.7m) was allocated to 88 organisations across the US, including those that provide front-line welfare assistance to Irish citizens. Furthermore, and in response to the pandemic, a dedicated COVID-19 Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad was set up to help these organisations meet the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable. Over the past five months, Minister Brophy and I have met virtually with many of these organisations and heard first-hand of the challenges faced by our diaspora communities, and the valuable support these organisations are providing.

While comprehensive immigration reform is a complex and sensitive political issue in the US at present, our Embassy and network of Consulates General will continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to engage with any Federal and State initiatives on this issue.

In terms of securing future pathways for immigration, we continue to prioritise the E3 Visa Bill which is currently before the US Senate, having been passed in the House of Representatives. It was reintroduced by Congressmen Neal and Sensenbrenner in May 2019, having failed to gain Senate approval the previous year. If passed, this could allow access to thousands of US visas each year to Irish citizens, providing new opportunities to live and work in the US. While the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted upon the congressional agenda, we hope that when the circumstances allow, the Bill will also be passed in the Senate. We will continue to explore all available options for securing this.

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