By Debbie McGoldrick

MORE than 1,500 family members and supporters of the estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish in the U.S. traveled to Dublin last Saturday for the first meeting in Ireland hosted by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) with one goal in mind to once again see their kids, with U.S. visas in hand, back on Irish soil.

The ballroom at Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge was packed with parents who haven’t seen their undocumented children for years, and more than two dozen Irish politicians who promised a renewed push to ensure that they obtain legal status in the U.S. as soon as possible.

Families from all over Ireland’s 32 counties traveled by train, bus and car to the rally, which provided them an opportunity to swap stories about their families in the U.S., and to get a first hand account from ILIR’s leadership which traveled from New York about the prospects of securing visas for their loved ones.

“This is our first meeting in Ireland, and hopefully it will be our last one,” said ILIR Vice Chairman Ciaran Staunton. “I want to tell all of you here today that your sons and daughters are a credit to you. They’re acting as the 50,000 best ambassadors that Ireland ever had in the U.S. They’re fighting for their futures in America, and we’re with them every step of the way.”

Ireland’s most influential politicians among them Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, soon to be deputy first minister in the new Northern Ireland government were clearly moved by the show of family unity at the rally. All of them stayed for the entire three-hour event to offer their support, and listen to first hand accounts of what it’s like to have children who cannot travel home because of their undocumented status.

“What a fantastic crowd. I give credit to each and every one of you,” said Ahern. “And I want to put on record the government’s appreciation for the work that ILIR has done on our behalf over the past few months. They go about their work in a reasonable, coordinated and organized way, and that is why they are so successful.”

With an Irish general election looming in the next few weeks, the Irish political parties represented at the rally chose to present a united front with regard to U.S. immigration reform, with Ahern saying it is far too important an issue to politicize.

“All of the parties are four square behind the issue of the undocumented in the U.S.,” Ahern said.

Kenny, who would ascend to taoiseach (prime minister) if the current government loses support in the election, agreed.

“We in opposition have supported Minister Ahern and his government,” said Kenny, who traveled from his constituency in Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland for the event. “We know that we cannot dictate to the U.S. government, but we can encourage them to enact reform.

“And if it falls to me to lead the next government,” Kenny added, “I would be happy to lead the charge to support ILIR and our undocumented.”

“You know, I came here today to argue that the Irish government should do all that it can for the undocumented in America,” said McGuinness. “But I don’t have to argue at all. It’s clear that everyone in the government is doing all that they can.”

Ahern was particularly forceful in expressing his anger at the Irish in Ireland who feel that the undocumented should return home to avail of the thriving Celtic Tiger economy. Home, Ahern said, doesn’t always have to be Ireland for the Irish.

“There have been some uncharitable words about the undocumented Irish,” said Ahern. “One letter in a newspaper said they should all come home to prosperous Ireland. I don’t accept that at all.

“I have seen the difficulty of some of those who return and try and set up a life here in Ireland, and they can’t hack it. I have to say that it is so important that people like yourselves articulate strongly how you feel about your families in the U.S.”

McGuinness urged those at the rally to keep their chins up and determination strong. Using the Northern Irish peace process as an analogy, he said that continued efforts will eventually pay off and allow the undocumented to travel home.

“As someone who has fought for 30 years for the rights of the Irish in the North, I have no problem associating myself with all of you here,” said McGuinness. “They said the peace process would never happen, they said the Good Friday Agreement would never happen, and we know it did. It sends a powerful message as to what can be done. This is a winnable cause.”

Those at the rally are banking on those words, and the politicians say that they’re getting the message. “I had four calls about this meeting today before I got here,” said Kenny, who was in New York last month and met with ILIR representatives.

“I have heard the stories of your children,” he added. “Life in America has become virtually impossible for them. And I just want to say how much we support them, and ILIR, and we will continue to work for their legality.”

Ahern stressed to the families that the next few months on Capitol Hill will be crucial as the battle for immigration reform in Congress gathers pace. He said that the government is continually monitoring the situation and taking cues from supporter such as Senator Edward Kennedy.

“There is a bill that will be debated,” Ahern said, referring to the Senate’s taking up of the issue next month, and proposals already put forth in the House. “The atmosphere (in Congress) is somewhat better than last year.

“The taoiseach (Bertie Ahern) raised the issue with President Bush when we were in the White House in March. We need to continue lobbying Congress. And I can guarantee you that the Irish government will leave no stone unturned over the next couple of months to see that legislation is signed.”

Though the government is fully supportive of the efforts to secure comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, Ahern also spoke about the possibility of a bilateral visa deal between Ireland and the U.S. that would allow for an exchange of visas on an annual basis.

“I want to say that we are looking at this,” said Ahern. “We want this matter dealt with one way or the other. We don’t want to have to come back to this issue in another 10 or 20 years.”

Kenny also supports this approach. “There is a clear need for a bilateral between Ireland and the U.S.,” he said, “to continue the connection between the two countries. Americans also want to come to this country, so it goes both ways.”

The political talks were interspersed with a question and answer session which allowed the families and friends to speak. Most of them had nothing to ask, but instead just wanted to share the enormous difficulties they face due to the separation from their family members in the U.S.

Gerry Coyle, the chairman of the Mayo County Council, spoke about the despair of so many families in the county who call seeking his advice on how to do something, anything, for their children in the U.S.

“I get so many requests,” he said, “and unfortunately I have to tell them that I am in the same situation myself, as I have a son in America who is undocumented. It is such a heartache for me personally. His grandmother is 93 years old. He can’t see her. I don’t know when he ever will see her. We just have to do something for our kids.”

Rosemary from Co. Louth talked about the agony of not seeing her sister in nine years. Elizabeth Monaghan stood up and spoke about her talented sister nominated for a literary award in Ireland, but unable to attend the ceremony.

Another parent from Donegal put it succinctly: “How much longer are we going to have to endure not seeing our kids?”

Dave Meade from Co. Dublin spoke movingly of his daughter Samantha in New York. “She has missed so many things here at home,” he said. “But I stay strong for her, even though being the strong parent isn’t easy. She calls on Christmas and I tell her not to because it breaks our hearts. I tell her call on Stephen’s Day, or some other time.

“But,” Meade told the hushed audience, “let me tell you how wonderful it is to be here today with all of you. Our kids have a right to be in America. I tell Sam to stick with her friends, that there’s safety in numbers and they’ll all eventually be all right. And from this end, I’m determined to make sure they are.”

The ILIR leadership who traveled from the U.S. was overwhelmed by the response to their first event in Ireland. “It’s really unbelievable,” said ILIR President Grant Lally. “And it’s great to see that Ireland is 100% behind this effort. The strength of the Irish community is when the chips are down we all work together.”

ILIR founder and chairman Niall O’Dowd said that the families in Ireland are crucially important to the legalization effort. “They’ve made their voices heard today, and everyone listened,” he said. “They want their kids back, and they want their government’s help in doing so. And ILIR won’t let them down.”

Among the other dignitaries in attendance were the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Thomas Foley, who also stayed for the entire meeting. Foley did not speak, but he was clearly impressed with the day’s events.

“President Bush supports comprehensive immigration reform, and we certainly hope it passes to alleviate the issue of the undocumented Irish,” Foley told the Irish Voice.

Though the meeting was serious in nature, it also offered lighter moments. P.J. Bradley, representing the North’s SDLP party, said he plans on asking the North’s new government to match the financial support given by the Irish government to ILIR. The day before the meeting, Ahern announced a further $50,000 grant for the group.

“All that remains for me to do is go back to Stormont and ask Ian Paisley to match the donation,” said Bradley, who has attended several ILIR events in the U.S. “And now that he’s saying yes it couldn’t be easier!”