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What President Trump means for the 50,000 undocumented Irish in the US

‘The Irish once had that extra bit of clout but those days are gone now.’

DONALD TRUMP’S COMMENTS on immigration sparked concern for the undocumented Irish living in the US throughout his campaign, now that he has been elected, that concern has turned to fear.

The Republican regularly stated his plans to track down and deport illegal US residents if he became president.

In an interview with CNN in August, Trump was asked if he would deport those who have lived in the US peacefully but without papers, he said:

There is a very good chance the answer could be yes … we’re going to see what happens.

US Immigration Attorney with USAVisaNow.net Caro Kinsella told TheJournal.ie that she’s hoping he didn’t mean everything he said:

I’m hoping what he stated during the campaign was just to get votes, the first speech he gave after being elected was much calmer. He’s a businessman so he may have just been selling something to the public to get votes.

Between 11 and 12 million illegal immigrants are believed to be living in the US, some 50,000 of those are understood to be Irish. During his campaign the Republican outlined three ways that he wanted to deal with illegal immigrants.

He said he planned to take away the birthright of US citizenship from children whose parents are illegal, referring to them as ‘anchor babies’.

He also said he wanted to cut federal funding to the 300 sanctuary cities in the US that adopt policies designed not to prosecute people solely for being undocumented.

Describing Trump’s other promise to have a mass deportation within his first 100 days in office, Kinsella said, “A mass deportation is physically and technically not possible – it was done for shock and awe.

She said the system would be overloaded as there are millions of undocumented people in the US and the system simply wouldn’t be able to tolerate it.

Yes people can be deported – but the thought of pulling people from their sleep and jobs is not going to happen.First they go through the deportation centre and then they have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge and the right to fight their case and discuss the reliefs available to them.

‘People are afraid’

“It makes me very nervous to be honest with you. It’s nervous times and worrying times ahead.”

Mike from Donegal has been living in New York illegally for the past 23 years. He explained to Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1:

I came here as a young fella when I was 19 years of age. You don’t have any thoughts, I just came over travelling and ended up staying.

“Now I’m married to an Irish girl from Donegal and I have three American kids aged 13, 12 and 5.”

Asked if he’s worried that he could be deported, Mike said, “I can’t say it’s not going to happen, it’s possible. There’s no point in me saying I’m not worried, I am.

“He’s in and nothing can be done about it and nothing can be changed … the only people who can help us is the Irish Government.”

Kinsella said she has witnessed this type of concern steadily increasing over the past year in the shadow of Trump’s threats.

“We were getting a flurry of emails and calls every time the media reported something he said. Their question was, ‘If Trump gets in, how will that effect my case?’

In the last 12 months it has been gathering momentum. People have been getting more and more anxious and since he’s won, that concern exponentially increased.

Executive Director of Chicago Irish Immigrant Support, Michael Collins reiterated this to TheJournal.ie and stated how, “The two months preceding the election have been extremely busy for our legal program.

People are afraid. The past two months, and in the days since the election, we have had a higher than usual amount of immigration inquiries … we have also gotten calls from Irish immigrants who are now looking to return home.

“I anticipate this to increase dramatically over the coming weeks. People will try to get their paperwork in order before he takes office.”

Uncertainty 

With the future looking uncertain for many Irish who have set up their lives in America, what is the Irish government doing to help?

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney said the government will continue to advocate for the millions of undocumented Irish, saying, “We will work with you.”

When asked by TheJournal.ie what the Irish government planned to do, Coveney said:

We will continue to work with those people regardless of the administration in the US and we will continue to advocate on Capitol Hill, in the Senate, as we have done, and in the White House.

“The relationship between Irish people abroad and Irish people at home needs to be a strong one and this government has a responsibility towards those people and we take it very seriously.”

When asked if the negotiations between the American and Irish governments to bring about more rights for the undocumented Irish are dead in the water, Coveney said:

“Well, look let’s wait see. I think we shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on a campaign, as I have said, that has been very divisive and difficult. I think we need to judge Donald Trump now on how he behaves and what he says as a president and let’s wait and see where that takes us.”

Ireland’s first emigrant senator, Billy Lawless, empathised with the undocumented Irish, saying, “They do not know what the future holds or whether they are safe.”

He added that the Vice-President Elect has a great affinity for Ireland and was one of the few Republican congressman to advocate for common sense immigration reform.

“Mike Pence is a key figure in the Trump administration and Minister Flanagan must do all that he can to engage him.”

Lecturer in Migration Studies at University College Cork, Dr Piaras Mac Éinrí, told TheJournal.ie:

“There was a time when the undocumented Irish fighting for recognition in the States had to decide whether to fight for recognition as a special case compared to other minority groups, or to fight alongside them for status.

The Irish had that extra bit of clout because of political and business leaders with Irish connections – such as McCain but those days are gone now.

If a cold wind starts blowing about undocumented migrants, then there’s no reason to believe that the Irish will get a special deal.

Caro Kinsella also added that it’s really important to try and stay calm.

Trump may not do anything. He may just have wanted the media attention. It’s a great way to get publicity  and he might have been saying it to fund his campaign.

However, she also urged people to make sure they are on the best visa for them and to get their documentation in order.

“My key advice is act now, don’t procrastinate, understand your visa. Make sure you’re on the strongest visa for your needs – don’t just go with one because your friend is on it.

“Also, don’t leave it to the last minute to extend your visa or change it – do it in advance as there may be delays in processing visas, a lot more people are anxious and are applying for visas.”

Additional reporting by Christina Finn. 

Read: Reports of Muslim students being targeted at colleges after Trump win>

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86 Comments
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    Mute John K
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:28 AM

    “Unable to cope with the burden of our success” strange reason to close a business. I wonder if there is more to the story.

    124
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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:32 AM

    @John K: It’s a strange comment, they have been in business through a lot worse times.

    I’ll always remember their potato pie and it’s size especially in the 80s

    63
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    Mute honey badger
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:45 AM

    @John K: Maybe they’re getting out while on top. I’m sure they’ve made a few quid. No harm wanting to enjoy the well-earned spoils.

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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:50 AM

    @John K: staffing issues usually means bottom of the barrel wages and horrible hours. If they shared profits more with the ground staff I doubt they’d have staffing issues.

    48
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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:53 AM

    Why not sell it as a going concern then? It makes very little sense.

    37
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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:04 PM

    @John K: According to the interview Brian gave on the radio this morning they were always flat out but due to rising costs they couldn’t make the business work.

    That and the fact that not being able to get the proper full time staff was putting too much pressure on them.

    21
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    Mute John K
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:17 PM

    @honey badger: getting out on top? That’s a reason to retire from boxing, not business.

    26
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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:25 PM

    @John K: If you were in the hospitality business, you’d know what he was talking about. It wears you down.

    45
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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:28 PM

    @John K: Haven’t heard an excuse like that since Pat Mustard said he’s just too gorgeous!

    38
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    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:00 PM

    @John K: they probably want to sell it on and the truth might hurt the sell price. Cafes are all busy, but busy paying the running costs to energy companies, revenue and unsustainable labour rates. It is what it is don’t backlash at me.

    17
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    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:01 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: do you think! I bet if you saw their books you would have a cringe and a rethink.

    4
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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:10 PM

    @Paul O’Mahoney: why not sell as a going concern? Something up here.

    7
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    Mute Niall English
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:35 PM

    @Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: like most businesses, closing their doors before the revenue come looking for the warehoused tax.

    8
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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:36 PM

    @Niall English: ah ha, I see said the blind man.

    4
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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Oct 1st 2024, 3:15 PM

    @Niall English: closing the business does not absolve them from their tax liabilities, including any warehoused tax that they might owe. Indeed, all it means is that they need to pay the tax now rather than some date in the future

    4
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    Mute Geraldine O'Riordan
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:38 AM

    30 staff out of work with 6 days’ notice.
    Very strange situation.
    Can they get redundancy, holiday pay, etc.

    79
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    Mute Seamus Enright
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:02 PM

    It’s ironic that Martin, who grew up fairly close by is mourning it’s demise when he’s part of the government that is strangling small businesses with red tape.

    Corporate Chains are far more able to deal with the onerous bureaucracy that our government forces restaurant owners to deal with.

    76
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    Mute lastfewchocices
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:22 PM

    @Seamus Enright: it’s not the government. It’s the eu. Box ticking exercises for Brussels. Even a general election with a change of government won’t make a difference.

    13
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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:32 PM

    Run off your feet collecting various taxes and pie in the sky level commercial rates levied by pen pushers cheered on by leftist media and populist politicians. We are a communist state in all but name.

    79
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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:59 AM

    People of Cork will know this but I’ll inform the rest of the country. Each branch has a picture of Padre Pio and the reason for that was, I believe, Jackie was diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis wasn’t very good so they went and visited Padre Pio and he prayed over him and his cancer disappeared.

    70
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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:21 PM

    First Sir Henry’s, now Lennox’s… Cork “rooooned”

    40
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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:29 PM

    @Louis Jacob: As long as The Mutton Lane stays open…….
    (though the tourists can be a pain in the a*se)

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:30 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Yes, I forgot about that. And Sin E.

    13
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    Mute Liam Kelleher
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    Oct 1st 2024, 2:16 PM

    If you know anything about Lennox’s, you would know it was run by a great family who treated customers and staff above and beyond, for generations, literally. It will be missed.
    They dearly wanted to reach 75 years.
    Brian mentioned two factors on the radio.
    1..Staff hard to acquire (used to have more)
    2..Red tape paperwork ..its so hard running a small business in an anti business country (take a bow Me-Hole) with the costs and time involved.
    The feeling from the radio was it simply was not worth going on. Not a decision taken lightly..
    This was an innovative (they added a laundrette to Bandon Rd), successful and well run business.
    They had taken lease back earlier this year and must have came to the sad realisation it wasn’t worth it.
    This sector is down 25% in one year.
    I found Martins comment offensive.

    31
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    Mute The Hard Road
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:27 AM

    Very sad to see these long running charities shutting up shop.
    Who will feed the good people of Cork now I wonder?

    18
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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:33 AM

    @The Hard Road: It’s not a charity it’s a business.

    47
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    Mute 1975johnnie
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:07 PM

    @Paul O’Mahoney: the sarcasm went over your head

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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:27 PM

    @1975johnnie: What sarcasm are you referring to.

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    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
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    Oct 1st 2024, 8:40 PM

    @The Hard Road: no laughing emojis allowed….but if they were you got one from me.

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    Mute HisMastersAlibi
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    Oct 1st 2024, 1:33 PM

    That’s sad to hear, loved a much from there, 1st time was intimidating with calling in the order from way back in the queue.

    13
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:22 PM

    Burdocks Christchurch would be hard to beat Ray and chips soaked in lard.

    7
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    Mute Meh Meh
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:34 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: Ray is absolutely disgusting, it’s like a battered umbrella. How anyone likes it is beyond me.

    19
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:41 PM

    @Meh Meh: it’s a Dublin acquired taste don’t have a wing as you call umbrella, you can have the centre of blonde Ray female of the species obviously, known as long Ray and a single delicious.

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    Mute Meh Meh
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    Oct 1st 2024, 12:47 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: Dub here too. Ah, I think I only ever tried the wing. Pure manky if not expecting it to be so full of bones. It was like, munch, argh, boke. Bin.

    5
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Oct 1st 2024, 3:21 PM

    @Meh Meh: the bones are flat so no need to bother with the bones, just scrape the fish off the bone each side it really is a dub thing, most people feel its like a ray couldn’t eat that.

    2
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    Mute Meh Meh
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    Oct 1st 2024, 6:06 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: You can also scrape the fleshy bits off a rats carcass, but I’d much prefer a fishfinger meself.

    2
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    Mute John Flanagan
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    Oct 1st 2024, 4:31 PM

    My god this new one on me. Cork has a chipper closing. Among many around the country. But mehole is very sad because it’s in Cork. Ahhh mehole has nothing else to upset him only a chipper in his city of cork. No other city chipper like cork. Tell u what’s his worries are. Cod and chips. What a cod he is

    8
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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Oct 1st 2024, 5:53 PM

    @John Flanagan: A family business of 70 years providing employment for 1000s over the years. What do you want?

    16
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