Posted on 02/28/2007 11:12:23 AM PST by Graybeard58
SAN FRANCISCO In a cozy room above a Russian market and a Shanghai-style restaurant, an Irish nanny gently rocked an American baby.
When the nanny reveals that she hails from the Emerald Isle, she said, American citizens are usually warm and welcoming and many speak proudly of their own Irish heritage.
They don't suspect her secret. They'd never imagine that the San Francisco nanny feels a special bond with millions of others, most from Latin America or Asia, who are illegal immigrants just as she is.
"The Irish are a bit luckier. We speak English, and we tend to get the better jobs," said the $17-an-hour, full-time nanny. She requested anonymity because she feared she and her 8-year-old son could be located and deported.
Next month, in what some call a critical turning point for their cause, the nanny and more than 150 other undocumented Irish and supporters from California will travel to Washington, D.C., to join a rally on March 7 outside Congress.
Donning "Legalize the Irish" T-shirts, they are expected to join thousands to lobby Congress for an increase in work-based immigrant visas and enactment of a program for undocumented workers to earn legal status.
They have powerful allies on Capitol Hill, and they hope to woo more.
Once more numerous, undocumented Irish immigrants are today estimated at about 50,000 nationwide, a number that pales in comparison to Latin Americans, Chinese or Indians, but could be matched, for instance, by undocumented Polish immigrants.
A decline in Irish immigration in recent years is attributed to Ireland's unprecedented economic boom, the so-called "Celtic Tiger."
The European Union has invested billions in grants to develop infrastructure, and the Irish embrace of the high-tech industry is fueling economic growth.
But some Irish arrived in America on tourist visas before the emergence of the Celtic Tiger, staying because they found plenty of work here. Also flocking to the United States are those from less-prosperous Northern Ireland.
In 2005, out of a total of more than 1.1 million people who were granted legal residency, only 2,088 were Irish. Most were married to U.S. citizens or legal residents.
In a separate lottery competition that reserves 50,000 slots a year for people from around the world, only 160 slots were won by Irish in 2006.
Doesn't matter... all the pubs are closing down, with the smoking ban and ridiculous drink-driving laws!
Ahh! The ones they left behind don't even drink Guinness! They drink swill like Miller Lite! What has the country come to?! I need a wee shot of Paddy to steady me nerves.
Francis, himself
True, I would fix the biggest pipe in an effort to prevent new water from coming in.
Frankly, relative to population, this is a huge number of Irish. Irish are 7 million out of 7 billion or 1 in 1000. Apparentely, in 2005, they go 1 out of 500 green cards.
Most people don't care how many illegals here are from Europe, Canada, Australia, Asian countries, etc.
People are staying at home - why bother when you can't smoke and can't even drive home after 3 pints?
I did not realize 150 years ago was considered ancient.
Doing the work americans won't do.
You have no idea about that. When an illegal irish goes to the ER, you probably think they are a citizen, while when a hispanic citizen goes, you probably think they are illegal.
Curious here. What number does "tons" equate to? How many illegals at how much weight per person?
If you get out and about in Newport Beach and anywhere in the Orange County vicinity, you know that Hispanic illegals are a MUCH HIGHER percentage than the "half of all illegals" that you stated previously.
(If they were angry about losing the land that Spain GAVE to mexico they should be throwing rocks at the graves of their own leaders who turned around and sold part of it off.)
I don't know why I used "tons". Figure of speech. I know personally at least 25 Irish people here illegally, and through them, many more as acquaintances.
I get out and about quite often, thank you. I don't know how to tell an illegal, hispanic or otherwise, by looking at them, though.
Okay, I looked it up. 81% of illegal aliens are hispanic, 9% Asian, 6% from Europe and Canada, and 4% from Africa or elsewhere.
Is the real problem the 6% from Europe and Canada, or the 81% from Mexico and Latin America?
Aren't they all the problem?
Alas. Three pints is just a good start at that! I usually ask for two pints and two Paddy's and the same for me friend, Seamus!
Slainte!
Francis
Actually, I don't think so. The U.S. can manage a small illegal immigrant population, and in fact must since a perfect system would strangle out liberty. What you must realize is that each group comes here differently and must be handled as separate problems. Hispanics can walk over the southern border into the country and are encouraged to do so by their government and by the corruption of officials in their countries. Canadians can also walk across the border, but have less reason to do so. Asians and Europeans fly to airports far from any border with visas that allow them to stay and/or work in the country.
The thing is, when you have an illegal alien problem, you need to look at what is lacking in law enforcement. Is it a visa overstay problem, a southern border problem, a northern border problem, or a problem with the naturalization process? If it's 4% a northern border problem, 6% a visa problem, 15% a naturalization process problem, and 75% a southern border problem, then the real problem is the southern border.
Oh, come on, the ones congregated in front of Home Depot, the 7-11s, other corners, riding around in old Toyota pickups, the gardeners, the housekeepers, the babysitters, the ones whose "anchor babies" fill the public schools ...
P.S. Don't believe everything the "Irish" tell you either. Hah.
You've never met those darn illegal penguins????
I'll adopt you and you can be my (legal American) boy!
*you have to build me a deck though
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