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THE ONGOING DETENTION of an Irish woman, Cliona Ward, who has lived lawfully in the United States for decades, in an apparently dreadful Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Tacoma, Washington, is absolutely appalling.
Ward had battled addiction and was convicted many years ago for drug-related offences. Her record has been expunged.
Yet, after a visit to Cork to see her elderly father, she was seized at San Francisco International Airport and evidently may be kept in custody for months. This situation is a travesty. Ward, who is a carer to her son, is collateral damage in efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to enhance border control, in accordance with the ascendant mood of the electorate.
One wonders, though, whether opposition to the abstract “illegal alien” will persist at a high level as the public witnesses the manifestly inhumane treatment of innocents caught in the crossfire, such as Cliona Ward. Her plight is angering to Irish people everywhere. It has hit me hard personally, as someone who identifies equally as American and Irish.
How does Ward’s de facto incarceration comport with the ideals our civic religion inculcates in us – that the US is “the land of the free and the home of the brave” and that ours is a “shining city on a hill,” in the words of President Ronald Reagan? It simply doesn’t.
I tell friends and acquaintances here now that – while I was growing up in East Milton, on Boston’s immediate southern edge, during the 1980s and the 1990s – I thought everyone in Ireland wanted to cross the Atlantic and dwell among us. Not only were a slender majority of my pals’ parents Irish-born, we were surrounded by a new generation of immigrants from the “auld sod,” fleeing a dearth of economic opportunity and chasing the prosperity their predecessors worked indefatigably to achieve in the US.
My boyhood perspective was perfectly understandable. The Irish, especially from the western seaboard, were inescapable. Those working in the trades appealed directly to the ancestral loyalties of Irish Americans by proudly advertising their counties of origin and often using them to maximum advantage when bidding for jobs. It may sound far-fetched at this juncture, but I was in the thick of it. That’s how it was.
Of course, I experienced this cultural phenomenon particularly acutely because of the transformative role my late uncle, former US Congressman and Ambassador Brian Donnelly, played in championing the legislation that bears our family name and allowed tens of thousands of Irish women and men a chance at the American Dream. The Donnelly visa was followed by the Morrison visa, further swelling the ranks stateside.
Then, two things happened: one welcome, one tragic. The Celtic Tiger boom attracted many to return to Ireland and dissuaded plenty more from leaving. 9/11, given the onset of strict security measures that resulted, marked an end to unimpeded travel to and from the US for the Irish without status. Their numbers have declined steadily since.
That said, a sizeable cohort in my native territory remains, as my wife invariably notices on our regular trips. On my recent sojourn to Boston, I undertook the scenic walk from East Milton over Milton Hill with its rambling mansions and gorgeous views of the downtown skyline – where President George HW Bush was born, and Irish women toiled as domestic help for old Brahmin families – through Dorchester’s Lower Mills section and onto Adams Corner, probably the city’s most Irish slice.
The pubs, restaurants and bakeries are still there. The convenience stores all feature Irish products. And there are so many Irish staff and patrons that those here who are unfamiliar with these locales, the real Irish America, might find it rather disconcerting. Indeed, I heard several conversations in the Irish language, which was unsurprising in that this has long been the next parish over for Connemara people, lots of whom feel more comfortable in Dorchester or in neighbouring municipalities like Milton, Quincy, Braintree and Norwood than in Dublin.
In this milieu, and in light of President Trump’s immigration tsar Tom Homan’s uncompromisingly ruthless rhetoric pledging to remove anyone not entitled to be in the country without fear or favour, what impact will Green Card holder Cliona Ward’s predicament have on the thousands of illegal Irish in America?
Young emigrants I encountered in New York restaurants and bars on the first leg of my travels expressed worries about their precarious existence. The advice from lawyers and organisations serving the undocumented in the places the Irish typically flock to has been that the individuals who are undeniably taking a big risk – no matter who is in the Oval Office – should tread extremely carefully. In essence, they warn that it is wise to keep your head down.
Conversely, there are definitely Irish women and men who do not believe that they are in any greater jeopardy at this moment than when they opted to overstay their 90-day tourist allowance. Their broad sentiment is that they have always avoided and will continue to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.
The current administration’s priority, they are convinced, is to deport gang members and criminals, not them. If they stick to their routine of working, paying taxes, contributing to the fibre of their communities, and not getting in trouble, things will be fine. It is simultaneously true that they benefit from being white, English speaking, and part of an ethnic grouping with very powerful allies and advocates in the US.
I pray that they are not wrong. Some are indifferent or unsympathetic on this front. But when I look at the undocumented Irish, I and most Irish Americans see the faces of our own parents, grandparents or great-grandparents, who were able to enter and embrace a new land fairly seamlessly. For many years, however, US law has effectively discriminated against putative Irish immigrants. That was the impetus behind the Donnelly and Morrison visas. We await a worthy successor, albeit with precious little hope at this fraught stage.
We are where we are. Cliona Ward’s is a cautionary tale – remember, she has the right to be there – reminding us that the Irish illegally resident in the US are not immune from President Trump’s crackdown. Their lives could be uprooted in an unfortunate instant.
Larry Donnelly is a Boston attorney, a Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and a political columnist with TheJournal.ie.
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I heard a 49 yr old guy on the radio today saying he was too old to work & was on the ‘scratcher’ for 20 yrs. When there were jobs a plenty guys like the one above couldn’t be bothered & it is him & ‘haversacks’ just like him that we just can’t carry anymore.
I agree . This ”man” is a disgrace to himself and his family and a burden to us all .
And there are thousands more, anyone who didn’t work through the Celtic tiger should be denied dole automatically. These people don’t want to work. Every single father must pay for his child. I know a single girl working two jobs who is getting less money than a single mother who never worked has a child with her live in BF who the gov don’t know about in the house that our tax money paid for. Our tax money bought her a laptop and computer lessons and she’s going abroad on holiday a few times this year again with our tax money. She’s doing some laughing at us eejits working!!
I’d rather my money went to nurses and garda and fire men and honest people.
If you are going to thumbs down my comment could you please explain why, only cowards don’t agree with something and then don’t say anything about it, thanks
How much is profiling 500000 people going to cost the taxpayer exactly? Will they employ a thousand people to move stacks of paper from one desk to another now? Is this the “job creation” the government promised?
cost == eeny meeny miney moe…..and four bundles and so on down the line
In Australia I think after 6 months on the scratcher you have to join green peace or some other NGO, would make more sense to have something like this in place to weed out the people who don’t want to work
I have seen first hand the type of people who have always lived off the social and they are a bunch of cretins, they’d rob the green and breach the peace! These people, largely, have no ambition beyond those who conceived of them in the back of a pickup.
This is a social problem and in my humble opinion, it needs to be tackled earlier on to change the mentality that drives this sub culture of state dependence.
The social welfare system should be much less about handing out cash and more about giving people enough to move on to something better, in a case and category specific manner.
Great idea and It might give them a bit of respect for themselves as well.
I know one polish man personally with a PhD working in factory cutting steel pipes. Will work to pay rent and support family. Also know a girl under 25 with 2 children on support with medical card rent allowance unmarried mothers allowance cash job with 08 BMW outside door. Her jockey also lives there. Take away all her benefits!!!!
I would certainly agree with everything you said.
Could i suggest filling out the form on the departments website so that appropriate steps can be taken against this person if she is committing welfare fraud.
https://www.welfare.ie/EN/Secure/Pages/ReportSuspectFraud.aspx
Could i suggest that everyone who knows of such people do the same? It’s up to all citizens to help stamp out welfare fraud. It our money they’re stealing!
Have you reported this to the welfare fraud department?
Here you go John:
https://www.welfare.ie/EN/Secure/Pages/ReportSuspectFraud.aspx
So students fresh out of University with hard earned degrees worth nothing will be punished for not taking that job offer as a cashier at a convenience store? “Oh but they should be grateful to have a job”- government propaganda phrase.
Those just out of university wouldn’t be the most likely to become long term unemployed I’d say.
And in fairness working in a shop is beneath no one. I did it for 4 years and would do it again if I had to.
To be honest the industrious grads will probably try get any job and springboard to a career from there… Also degrees are not worth nothing. Students graduating in computer science will have many opportunities and some friends who have recently graduated in business, hr and science have done well as graduates and gotten on the career they want.
Benefit supported unemployment should not be a lifestyle choice. If you cannot immediately find the job that you believe you are qualified for and choose not to work at anything else, why should the State support you?
Honest paid work is not beneath anyone ,
Absolutely nothing wrong with working as a cashier with a degree. I would have much more respect for someone who did that.
It’s better than scrounging off the state…
Presuming your degree was not retail related, you already expect to be unemployed and seeking benefit? Fantastic ambition
My degree is in Journalism but I work in energy severance but it’s far better than being on the dole I think. I can’t get dole anyway as I have a herd number and I wouldn’t as I don’t agree with it…
What is energy severance and are you willing to pay the FULL COMMERCIAL cost of your “journalism course. Christ help us, if muppets like you are the journalists of the future.
Donncha
What is a herd number ?
A herd number is a number that farmers have to designate their herd. Energy severance is self explanatory, what do you mean? I educated myself in the Uk paid £3,500 a year tuition, but there are no jobs in journalism. How does my eagerness to make a living dispite the economic circumstances hinder my journalistic ability. I may work in an industry or profession that deals with the lowest echelons of society who struggle in the harshest and most harrowing circumstances and conditions. This said, I am glad to have a job, and I still maintain an active twitter and blog, just because I’m not writing in news papers and using my qualification to fund my life it doesn’t mean I’m a worthless or unintelligent parasite. I think what you said reflects far more on your alleyway like narrowmindedness.
Donncha
I am a city girl ! I have never heard of a herd number . Also my ignorance knows no bounds tonight ,but I have never heard of energy severance either. Congratulations on getting your qualifications in journalism , I don’t think anyone meant you are worthless or unintelligent. However if some one is not working and they do not have a herd number or any other fall backthen the only option is to go to social welfare, which does not entitle anyone to tell them that they are ”scrounging off the state” .Particularly if they have dependents. Good luck in your job and good luck with your degree.
:) :)
Brought to you by the people that lost €3.6 billion down the back of the sofa!
This is getting ridiculous!
FAS staff seek €6000 pay increase in spite of Croke Park.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fas-staff-sought-6000ayear-pay-hike-for-moving-to-new-department-2997210.html
This madness can’t go on anymore, we have to stop it now.
To be fair, I think it’s a great idea, a brother of mine was very happy to sit at home for years and not bother looking for job until the revenue started calling out to talk to him, he got a job in 2 weeks after.
No offence to my bro, but it’s people like that they are trying to target.
So have all the moaners here got some other ideas then? Burn the bond holders………. Yawn! Moaning won’t get us anywhere, appropriate training might?
Surely you are mistaken, no ones comes on here to moan
What do you suggest Owen? Any nuggets of wisdom from yourself there ?
What kind of appropriate training ?
Computer programming, financial services, language skills……. Let’s do all the kind of stuff that attracts multinational companies to Ireland to take advantage of low corporate taxes and our skilled workforce. Of course this is a very simple idea and it’s one the government are probably pursuing anyway. Maybe folks here could throw similar ideas out there so people could see some kinda light at the end of the tunnel and reskill appropriately….. Better than moaning and looking for somebody to blame all the time
Owen the
We had an ”initiative ” that was reported yesterday and there were 1200 jobs pledged …….
€1,250,000,000 is being given to the troika tomorrow and our cupboards are bare.
There are No jobs …. No training …
In fairness Eileen, governments don’t create jobs and I hate it when they promise to. They can only create the conditions to create jobs. Burning bondholders now will scare away the multinationals we need to grow our small open economy with little natural resources to do otherwise. Would you set up your stall in a market that defaults on their borrowings? People should look to help themselves instead of waiting for politicians to do so. I am not trying to offend anybody, but as I said, moaning gets us nowhere.
I suggest we start creating jobs, Ireland is a truely spectacular country. All current advisors should be sacked and invest the money in local entrepreneur’s with new and innovative ideas. That would be a good one to start with anyway. Any other idea’s?
How about you Owen? What exactly do you mean by appropriate traing?
Sorry I just noticed but my MSG looks really stupid now, it only showed the first two replies when I started writing that.
Editor. Do the comments on the iPhone app not refresh when you are looking at the same news story?
What training ?? have you checked fas lately not one training course of any use in todays market …
I have to agree. When I went into FAS after being on welfare after 3 months to look for training courses the lady suggested I sign up for the Microsoft Office Suite course based on my CV. I have an IT degree….
Aside from the obvious ridiculousness of that which now makes me laugh a little, there does come a point when the value of training courses just becomes a course to pass the hours of the day
You’re right here. This gave me a good laugh. Follow this link and see yourself how much courses Fas has on offer at the moment…
https://jobbank.fas.ie/servlet/Watis?SESS=561852069_1&SERVICE=CRITERIUMTREE&TEMPLATE=WWW_JS_TRAIN_CRITERIUM_VALUE.HTM&CRITERIUM=F7&TYPE=LTREE&BACK=TEMPLATE%3DWWW_JS_TRAIN.HTM
On the dole that’s correct flower arranging how to become a brickie or meals on wheels
I’m all for weeding out people that “don’t want to work”. But, is it not possible that at least some of the people that are turning down jobs are actually working in the black economy? €50 per day plus the dole and benefits is a lifestyle choice for a lot of people that pays very well. Social Welfare fraud is a major part of the problem.
The best thing everyone can do is travel. Not emigrate, Noonan said that doesn’t happen, but go and see the world. Maybe he’ll even pay for it, the gobshite.
It’s an absurd time to bring in legislation that penalises people for not being able to find a job. There are so few jobs that people are leaving the country!! What the Minister for Social Destruction is doing is trying to create a slave-wage economy – a bit like the US – with it’s Hoover City.
I have known a few people who remained on the dole during the bubble, but it is a mistake to assume that they have not contributed to society. There are multiple ways to contributed to society and I wonder how much have bankers and politicians contributed? Many ‘dolites’ did not subscribe to the bubble-mentality – just as the bubble promoters do not subscribe to a fairer society.
I’d challenge the likes of Peter66 to answer the question: who has been more destructive to the economy: those *working* within the financial & property sector or those dolites who lived within their means, not wanting more?
The CE schemes proved that when you allow people the time to find what they want to do, and what they are good at, they will thrive. Of course an economy needs it’s drones to do the factory work, but I wonder how many of them come from Dublin 4?
I will agree with you on the C.E point Gordon. With such a scheme i would never have started on the road that eventually got me my degree.
I think the point is that people who receive offers of work or training and turn them down will be penalised, not those who can’t find work.
But who decides what’s reasonable?
The government that invented Job’s Bridge, or the government that intends to pay Anglo Unsecured Bonds?
…. and training like, “how to make a CV”?
I’m self employed and I have been employing 2 people full-time but now we will have to close up, the reason is because we are losing 80% of our business to individuals drawing the dole and charging half our industry rates for cash in hand. I’ve reported any suspects since December and nothings happened. They are laughing their heads off and now we will have to stop trading at the end of this month. The black and grey market is where the clampdown needs to be.
yeah Ive heard alot about that recently, that is sad news. Just wondering as you’re self employed will the gov help you in any way?
No they won’t Des. As a self employed person, he will not be able to claim any dole, regardless of how much money he has payed in tax over the years.
Totally agree, and what the general public need to recognize is that many (if not all) of these people are under-qualified, not insured and not paying taxes. There is a reason for industry rates, it’s called overheads.
There is a minority core of social welfare recipients who are dependent on the State and were contained within the 3% that were unemployed in 2006. I believe they are institutionalised into welfare and this new legislation will do little to change their situation. If they want to throw a job interview it wouldn’t be difficult.
However, the fact that we got unemployment down to 3% in more economically prosperous times is surely indicative of our workforces inclination to work given the opportunity. Lack of motivation for the vast majority of the 14.5% now unemployed is not the issue, it’s lack of job vacancies. By all means the government should up skill and equip those on social welfare but please don’t label all as scroungers when the majority were tax contributors when an opportunity was available to them.
good man, sense at last. I was working when my friends sat on the dole getting 207 plus rent allowances and fuel allowances, I earned on average 240 a week, in a retail job. didnt get any help from the dole office. and along with that there were lads that i knew earning €1000 + a week as labourers and stone masons. I did honest days working, I was let go. Thankfully Im in college but its harder than ever, its over crowded for one, two there are people unlike myself that are over qualified in my course, and thats bad because the Tutors cannot cater for us all and concentrate on the people who know what they are talking about.
But to your main point, I hated getting up in the morning to do 4 hrs work knowing that my brothers and friends had a better life than me. however we have to realise that that government never allowed me or these recipiency folk to over spend. Times are different yes, but you and I will never shake the wood lice free. they didnt cause the problem, only the resentment.
time to look at the folk who are on the dole and have a trade or qualification!!! I have neither and I suffer right now
i mean the lads on the dole who have a trade or qualification and are earning money from it off the record
On the issue of FAS- it’s being disbanded in its current form to make way for Solas this year.
It was reported in Sunday’s Business Post that Solas will develop courses that cater for the needs of the unemployed and of the market place.
This is a positive move by the government as it’s reforming the vocational education sector, which is desperately needed as, let’s face it, the 400,000 + on welfare can’t all attend 3rd level, either for age, monetary or academic reasons.
My only problem is the lack of joined up thinking. Jobbridge isn’t a success, it should be amalgamated with Solas to provide experience for those who have up skilled in the vocational education system, instead of catering for (predominantly) 3rd level graduates.
The vocational educational overhaul is a huge piece of the solution in getting people off the dole.
Well said
So will there be jobs for d profiling??? Useless shower .
?
“the new system – which comes in response to the failure of a previous “one size fits all” approach”
Sure, I’ve read that before: “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”.
There are a lot of lessons to be learned from “animal farm”. F•••••g pigs! It’s one of the few books I read.
so we can look forward to a whole new lexicon of doublespeak from government around jobless statistics…you guessed it, “unemployment falls again for the third month in a row…down from 2,357 to 2,348 with only a slight increase in numbers of probable exits when adjusted for improbable entrants…” muppets!
This is going to confuse the crap out of poor civil servants who don’t read the rule books of Ireland. It is most unlikely that they will not train these civil servants properly.
I wonder will they profile pretentious American Corporations, Bankers, Developers, Politicians, Solicitors and the low life cronies they keep financing?
It is most likely that they will continue to illegally use opinions to leave people to starve. For those who might be interested you must ensure they give you a full list of your rights and challenge their use of opinions in the Social Welfare Appeals Office. You need to do most of your communication in writing with these people to build up evidence. Public Servants are still subordinate to you and their opinions cannot take precedence in law.
“Public servants are subordinate to you”. What a load of crap! Just because you pay taxes (as do public servants) does not mean ANYBODY is subordinate to you. Do you even know what that word means?!
@Sara cahill: You need to read Article 9.3 of the Irish Constitution.
Public Servants are assuming authority and at a later date could pay a big price.
If you are a public servant you should be careful. Ask your boss for proper instructions.
Does Article 9.3 use the word “subordinate” or is that your own interpretation of it?!
@Sara cahill: Its based on your role as a Citizen.
Whether you are child / student , unemployed or employed or retired it is your role as a citizen that always takes precedence.
Your job is always secondary to role as citizen. If your job stops you being loyal then you resign and take the details to an appropriate authority. You can’t use your job as an excuse in matters of treason. The words “public servant ” are used to describe your position in your job. You cannot be a public servant as a citizen. All citizens are equal in theory.
You’re still not answering the question so I’m going to presume that you interpreted it to fit the ridiculous point you’re attempting to make.
@Sara cahill: You have to read up on law to understand the hierarchy and delegation.
The word subordinate does not appear in the text, but that does not means it not applicable.
So you’re basically making it up.
@Sara cahill: Stop being daft. If you don’t like what i say you can always go and read the rule books for yourself.
If you are a public servant / civil servant then its time to be careful and protect yourself by reading up on the rules and citizens rights and duty.
@Sara cahill: Stop being daft. If you don’t like what i say you can always go and read the rule books for yourself.
If you are a public servant / civil servant then its time to be careful and protect yourself by reading up on the rules, understanding citizens rights and duty.
Excuse me? Daft? Let me just clarify that I have absolutely no interest in the rubbish that you are spouting. I suspected that the word “subordinate” is not found in the Constitution in reference to civil servants. And I was correct. You are probably just another ill-informed private sector worker who believes that you own the public service because you pay tax. Public sector work was probably beneath you in the past (you clearly think a lot of yourself) but now that he country is in dire straits you would like to blame it all on the public sector.
You stop being daft and maybe start reading something other than the Indo. It would probably make you seem a lot more interesting. Maybe even intelligent.
@Sara cahill: It must be a lot easier arguing with me on this site than taking time out to read he rules.
If you read he rules you will know your position and do not need to argue.
You won’t read the rules will you?
Oh no sorry you didn’t remove them I’m new to this game sorry
If you are on the iPhone app it’s shit. It really doesn’t work well. A lot of people have this same problem.
Editor. Why does the journal not fix all the problems with it’s iPhone app?
It’s going to be sorted in a few weeks. Gavan promised…
Give joe bloggs a go at fixing it. He has the IT degree and a bit if time on his hands!
Ha, thanks Réada. Yes, a new update to our iPhone app is on the way that should resolve any issues.
Journal why did you remove my comments ?
My parents are both self employed – Its a myth that self employed people can’t draw any dole – they can get jobseekers allowance which is means tested, just not jobseekers benefit e.g. stamps they can also opt in or out of paying contributions. To those who make these statements show me all of the ex self employed people starving in the streets.
He possibly could be entitled to dole if he closes his business. It depends on previous years earnings though. I know a guy who is self employed but not really getting any work. He was means tested and he got a little under half the dole.
A good move if it happens.
I would also like to see finger print identification for the purposes of social welfare payments. Some say this is an infringement on personal rights, but i had to do the same thing to enter a gym this morning. Surely there is justification for it where your claiming 180 quid or more??
Was working with a girl once (she was off the books so still claiming fully) who was living with a boyfriend who was also on the dole, with both of them receiving council housing. She was in her early 30′s, and had been living like that since the height of the Celtic Tiger. It was a blatant lifestyle choice, and one she was happy to settle for it for the rest of her life. She had a family of 7 siblings, everyone of whom were settling for the exact same thing.
Any hint of attitudes against this are immediatly met with the term “Tory”. Just because the Tories were for it doesn’t make it wrong.
No I think that finer print id for the purpose of social welfare payments is going too far. If one needs money, they need to go on the dole. What about finger print identification for those bankers and developers who ruined the country. Most people think that people on the dole are scroungers, and don’t do anything, and go on holidays, a few times a year, but most don’t so it is not good to generalise, Most unemployed people hardly ever step outside their gate, only when they go and sign, as they can’t afford the transport.
have your say