Madam, - Immigration reform in the US is a complex and politically poisonous issue. No comprehensive solution has been proposed that would resolve the plight of millions of illegal immigrants.
In a political system that thrives on special interests and with no relief in sight for any undocumented immigrants, why shouldn't the Irish lobby for an agreement based on their historical and ongoing contribution to the United States?
Trina Vargo's opposition on moral grounds to efforts to legalise the Irish smacks of elitism. The strong cultural, economic and financial ties that now exist between Ireland and the US were built on the backs of labourers who came here over many years. The new Ireland has led to an influx of educated Irish professionals to the US but there are many Irish who didn't reap the benefits of the Celtic Tiger and for whom America represents a better life. Her ill-judged comments demonstrate her abject unfamiliarity with all the realities of the Irish in America and the Irish American world that exists outside of philanthropic boardrooms. - Yours, etc,
MARY McEVOY, Yonkers, New York, USA.
Madam, - I am a 39-year-old, second-generation Irish American and I am an ardent supporter of a deal for all illegal immigrants living in this great nation. Trina Vargo's article in The Irish Timesis terribly flawed from an economic and political standpoint. The fact that she has worked for Senator Kennedy leads me to believe she has a fairly good understanding of how politics influence legislation in the United States. If, in fact, a "small" group of Irish-Americans can influence Congress to pass legislation for illegal Irish immigrants, she would be a fool not to think that similar legislation for illegal Mexican immigrants would soon follow. There has to be a "jumping-off point"; someone or some group has to blaze the trail so that all may follow. This great country was created by people who were not afraid to go out and blaze trails so that others might benefit.
As for her glowing economic analysis of Ireland and the "Celtic Tiger", she has conveniently exposed herself as an advocate of socialism. I find no mention of Ireland's oppressive tax rates, economically depressed traditional industries and a socialised health care system that is a complete failure. Canadian citizens, also victims of socialised medicine, enter the United States daily for MRIs and other tests that they would have to wait months for back home.
I suggest she reads Milton Friedman's classic book Freedom to Choose, because essentially all illegal immigrants want is the freedom to choose. My grandparents came to this country from Ireland seeking a better life and they were met with: "No Irish need apply". Who are we to repeat those words to the Irish immigrants or any other immigrants in the year 2007? History and God will judge us poorly if we continue to force hard working, honest people to live in the shadows of freedom that so many of us take for granted. - Yours, etc,
EDWARD NELSON, Long Beach, New York, USA.
Madam, - I am rather disturbed to hear that Trina Vargo, former Kennedy adviser, is so against legalising illegal Irish immigrants in the US. I know many of the Irish here with young American children who are leaving the US in droves.
They are replaced by Asians, many of them Muslims, whom US security then spends years monitoring. While legalising the Irish may be selective it amazes me that, with 50 million US citizens of Irish descent, the Irish Government seems so powerless to help the diaspora. Israel, with only about 5 million, does not seem to have any problem with legalising foreign Jews, but then the Jews stick together, while the Irish are so divided.
Many middle-class Irish here in the US who despise the undocumented Irish forget the fact that many of them got in the back door, often illegally, in the past. But that was pre-9/11, of course. - Yours, etc,
Fr BRENDAN DUGGAN, St Mary's Church, Woodside, New York, USA.