SOUTH Down MLA Seán Rogers (SDLP) has said he hopes Barack Obama’s election victory will renew the hopes of the Undocumented Irish in America.
Mr Rogers, who has paid close attention to President Obama’s re-election victory speech and his reference to his plans to tackling the immigration issue in the United States, was encouraged by the hope that Irish workers will be recognised along with other nationals currently working illegally in the US.
Mr Rogers said: “I was pleased to hear the re-elected President say during his victory address that in the coming weeks and months he was looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges they can only solve together and he made specific reference to fixing the US immigration system.
“Our ‘Undocumented’ exiles in the United States will take some hope from the President’s words but they have been built up and let down so many times previously that they will not get over excited until something more positive is announced.
“It is very difficult at this stage to say how the immigration debates will fare given that the Democrats are the majority in the Senate whilst the Republicans control Congress. Attempting to get agreement will be difficult but I am confident that President Obama will at least give it a try.”
