AWARD-WINNING actress Fionnula Flanagan has urged Irish-Americans to support immigration reform to protect the undocumented Irish living in the United States.
Ms Flanagan was speaking at the weekend at an event in New York to honour the Top 100 Irish- Americans.
The event was attended by the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, as part of her trip to New York where she will officiate at the St Patrick's Day parade today.
Ms Flanagan urged those in attendance not to forget the undocumented Irish in the US. "We must not turn our backs on people because it is not fashionable to support them," she said. "We must not forget those who are less fortunate than ourselves."
She herself had lived as an illegal immigrant in the US in the past she said. "I was lucky. People were able to help me get back on my feet. Today's undocumented Irish are not so lucky."
She urged the Irish-Americans present to contact their legislators to ask for help for the undocumented Irish. "It is up to us, Irish- Americans, to reach out to our leaders."
The Emmy award-winning actress, who has forged a Hollywood career and has starred in films such as The Others, Transamerica and Some Mother's Son has been a long-time supporter of the campaign for immigration reform in the US.
She recently pulled out of a US-Ireland Alliance pre-Oscars event over comments made by alliance president Trina Vargo, who criticised the campaign for the undocumented Irish.
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