Seán Crowe TD has welcomed today’s news that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will give undocumented immigrants identity papers allowing them to live ordinary lives in New York State.

The Dublin South West TD and Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs said:

“I welcome this initiative from the New York Mayor. It will enable many undocumented residents access to public services as well as opportunities to sign leases and open bank accounts.

“Figures show that there are almost half a million people undocumented in New York today.”

Following De Blasio’s refusal to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue this year, Seán Crowe also took the opportunity to urge An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to do the same.

“St Patrick’s Day in New York City is perhaps the largest showcase of Irish culture across the globe.

“New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world and the exclusion of LGBT groups from the celebration is wrong.

“The Fifth Avenue St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place just blocks away from Stonewall Place where riots in 1969 transformed a small, national campaign into a civil rights movement across the world.

“This particular dispute has been ongoing since 1990. I welcomed Mary McAleese’s stand before, and I call on Enda Kenny to do the same.”

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