Campaigners on behalf of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States are setting up a working group in Ireland to increase awareness of the issue.
The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) will hold a public meeting in Dublin on April 14th for relatives and friends of illegal immigrants in the US to get involved in the campaign for immigration reform.
ILIR chairman Niall O'Dowd said the group had received numerous requests from the families of undocumented immigrants for an opportunity to become involved in the campaign.
"We know the trauma every family suffers at the sight of an empty chair at family functions like weddings, funerals, birthdays and the desire they have for their children to be present. Now they can play a significant role in creating an issue of this in Ireland at a vital time of importance for Irish immigrants as the immigration debate comes front and centre in America," he said.
Last November's Democratic victory in US congressional elections has revived hopes of legislation that would allow most of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants to remain in the US legally and eventually apply for citizenship.
ILIR estimates that there are 50,000 undocumented Irish citizens in the US, although US authorities say the number is closer to 5,000.
The US president George Bush has promised to work with the Democratic majority in Congress to introduce comprehensive immigration reform and ILIR is holding a series of rallies across the US to maintain pressure on legislators.
The group will hold rallies in Philadelphia and Boston later this month and in Washington DC next month.