Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Diaspora, Seán Crowe TD, has welcomed the positive outcome in the US Senate’s vote on the Immigration Reform Bill.

The Bill, which would provide for a comprehensive reform of the American immigration system and provide a pathway for many of the undocumented Irish in America, was passed in the US Senate last night.

Deputy Crowe said:

“I welcome the passage of this bill by the US Senate and this is a very positive development for the approximately 50,000 undocumented Irish in America.

“This bill will provide a pathway for citizenship to the undocumented, who are currently forced to live in fear of deportation and unable to fully participate in civic life in America.

“Additionally the bill also contains specific E3 provisions for Ireland that will also provide for a legal and easier pathway for Irish citizens emigrating to America in the future, and it will see the continuation of the J1 summer visas.

“The passage of the bill is testament to hard of work of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and other Irish-American groups which have worked so hard and lobbied politicians to support this bill.

“The bill will now go to the US House of Representatives for debate in the next few weeks and I hope the bill will receive as much support there as it did in the Senate.

“I would encourage all Irish-American to lobby their local Congress men and women and ask them to support this important bill when it comes to the House of Representatives.”

ENDS