US: The Irish community in Chicago is rallying together to protest against proposed immigration reforms which threaten the estimated 5,000 undocumented Irish immigrants living in Chicago and the midwestern states.
Meetings were recently held on the north and south sides of the city to educate people about the proposals that are expected to come before the Senate in late February.
The Sensenbrenner bill, which has made it through the House of Representatives, seeks harsh penalties for those who violate the American immigration system. Under the proposed law, if immigrants cannot produce a green card when asked by a police officer, they would not only face deportation, but could also be put in prison for at least a year with no right of appeal.
"It is a little strong; I don't think the penalty fits the crime," said Joe Lyons, a state representative of a predominantly Irish neighbourhood on the northwest side of Chicago. "If I was Irish and illegal I'd be damned worried about it," he said.
At the Irish-American Heritage Centre last Friday, a new group, Chicago Immigration Reform, was formed.
Its aim is to inform Chicago's Irish community about the pending legislation and the consequences it could have. It is calling on legal and illegal immigrants to write letters and e-mails to local politicians and state senators asking them to vote down the Sensenbrenner bill.
"If it comes in, I'm out of business and that's it," said an undocumented immigrant at Friday's meeting. The 38-year-old man from Killarney, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had owned a successful construction business in Chicago since 1999, but if the new legislation came in he would return home because he was too afraid of being caught.
Several documented Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans turned up at the meetings in support of the undocumented.
Erin Devlin, an American of Irish descent, is married to an undocumented Irish man. She said many of the undocumented in the community were too afraid to come out and fight this legislation. "They are afraid if they show up [ to meetings] they'll be under the limelight."
A 30-year-old undocumented woman from Co Wexford, who works at an Irish bar in Chicago, said the proposed legislation was frightening.
She had lived and worked in the city for five years, but if the bill passed, staying in America would not be worth the risk of going to prison, she said.
"I would seriously consider moving back. If that law is passed, it will have a huge effect on the illegals here. You pay taxes, you contribute to a country but you have no rights, it's not fair."
She said Irish Government was not doing enough to support illegal immigrants in the United States. "I'm sure it would benefit the Irish economy if immigrants could travel home and invest in property and the economy."
Fr Michael Leonard, a parish priest and executive director of Chicago Irish Immigrant Support, would also be affected by the new proposal if it became law. The bill would make those who help illegal immigrants subject to fines and even prison.
"I am really upset about this proposed legislation," said Fr Leonard. "If the legislation comes into law, it will seriously affect the work we do, I may as well close my doors [ if it passes] - it is that serious."
Although there are many illegal immigrants who would return home if the legislation passed, there are some undocumented who say they will remain, despite the increased risks.
An undocumented 26-year- old man, originally from Co Tyrone, said he take the chance of being discovered.
He owns a bricklaying company and a house in the Chicago suburbs and fears he would lose everything if caught. "It would make my life a lot harder. It is a risk even if you are pulled in for a speeding ticket," he said.
Another undocumented man, originally from Co Clare, said: "Whether it comes in or not I'm staying. When you are here for five or six years you can't just up, leave and go home."