We welcome President Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration and we are delighted for those who will soon find themselves in a new legal status.

We intend to lobby hard to ensure that the advance parole conditions for travel to Ireland are as favorable as possible for those who seek it and to also ensure that regulations covering the executive order are easy to navigate and understand. We will also act to ensure that proper legal advice, that does not financially exploit those seeking it, is given.

However, we are very conscious that a large number of individuals will not be able to take advantage of President Obama’s action, in particular those who have lived in America for five years but do not have children (single people with no children, childless couples, LGBT couples with no children etc.).

When we founded the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, it was with the purpose of achieving meaningful reform for all members of our community.

With this in mind, we welcome President Obama’s actions.

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform will continue to seek reform for those individuals without children and those eligible for sponsorship and investor visas who run the risk of a ten year ban if they return to Ireland to process these visas.

We will also pursue the E3 visa option which is still very much on our agenda and would end the shameful situation where there is essentially a no Irish need apply sign for those wishing to emigrate legally to America.

Tags: Capitol Hill, ILIR, Immigration Reform, Irish America, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, No Irish Need Apply, White House