The recent increase of deportations of the undocumented Irish from USA is a worrying development for families in Laois, according to a local TD.
Fianna Fáil TD Fiona O’Loughlin has said that she is “deeply concerned” by the rise in the number of undocumented Irish being detained and deported by US immigration officials in the run up to the Christmas
She has called on the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar to make the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States one of his priorities for 2018.
“50,000 Irish citizens are estimated to be living in the United States without residency rights, and the threat of deportation is more real than it has been in the past number of years due to the hard-line on immigration being pursued by the Trump administration.
“The crackdown on illegal immigration intensified in the run up to Christmas, the number of Irish deported from across the US since the Trump administration took power has risen to 34 from 26 last year, according to the most recent deportation figures.
“There has been an increase across the board of 30% in deportations since the election of President Trump,” she said
“2018 needs to see progress for these 50,000 Irish people who have made America their home.
Undocumented
“Earlier this year, the Taoiseach appointed Deputy John Deasy as a special envoy for the undocumented Irish in the US,” she said.
She said it is time for the work of the Government to start to bear fruit.
“Families here in Laois and in Ireland, in addition to the 50,000 in the United States are desperately worried about their futures.
“They need engagement and action from the Taoiseach and the Government, 2018 must be the year for progress for the undocumented,” concluded O’Loughlin.
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