President Trump and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during their Oval Office meeting Thursday. Photo courtesy Irish Embassy.
By Ray O’Hanlon
The undocumented came out of the shadows in the White House yesterday.
The plight of as many as 50,000 Irish who living illegally in the U.S., some of them for decades,
was high on the discussion list when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sat down with President Trump for their first encounter in the Oval Office.
Later, in his address to the St. Patrick’s Day reception in the White House East Room, Mr. Varadkar said that the Irish government was ready to make a deal with the U.S. that would ease the burdens of the undocumented Irish who, the taoiseach said, loved the United States every bit as much as American citizens.
The Irish Times reported that President Trump had signaled support for a solution for the undocumented Irish during the Oval Office discussion.
Certainly, from his address to the later reception, which included the presentation of the traditional crystal bowl of shamrock, Mr. Varadkar appeared to believe that some sort of agreement was possible.
“I know that the Irish people who have made their lives here, including those who are undocumented and living in the shadows, love this country dearly,” he said.
“They want to continue to contribute to the life of this great country, and continue to play their part. Their dream will never die.”
He then indicated that the Irish government was ready to make a deal, one in which anything agreed would be reciprocal for Americans living in Ireland.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Varadkar, reported the Times, had told the guests at the Speaker’s Lunch on Capitol Hill that he appreciated the “complexity and sensitivity” of the political debate around immigration.
“However, I might simply highlight their (the undocumented Irish) situation – hardworking, law-abiding, tax-paying Irish men and women who share your hopes and your values, who are patriotic and loyal to America – and urge a sympathetic look at this issue.”
Added the report: “Earlier in the day, the two met for 30 minutes in the Oval Office where Mr. Trump signaled his support for a deal on the undocumented.
“The Taoiseach proposed a reciprocal arrangement whereby U.S. citizens could be given reciprocal rights in Ireland – something that was given a positive reception by Mr. Trump, who has taken a hardline approach to immigration since his inauguration.”
Mr. Varadkar said after the meeting: “There was support and a good degree of enthusiasm from the administration to work on a solution for the thousands of undocumented Irish that are here but are hardworking, tax-paying people who are very loyal to America.”
What might be in the works, though it hasn’t been stated, is an allocation to the Irish of renewable two year E-3 visas.
Such visas are already available to citizens of several other countries, including Australia.
Any deal on E-3 visas would stand separately from the broader issue of comprehensive immigration reform which is currently represented in various forms in a range of bills before Congress.
