[[March 8, 2006]] press release from [[Senator Teddy Kennedy]] link

Washington, DC: Today 1600 Irish Americans -- including 900 from Massachusetts - descended on the Capitol in support of the McCain-Kennedy plan for comprehensive immigration reform. Kennedy addressed the group to thank them for their dedication and give them an update as to where the negotiations stand in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The mark-up of Chairman Specter's immigration proposal began on March 2 and continued today. Kennedy and bipartisan co-sponsors of McCain-Kennedy are seeking to improve Specter's proposal believing that its enforcement provisions and failure to offer a pathway to citizenship would further drive immigrants into the shadows.

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform represents Irish American groups across the country and is working hard to galvanize support behind McCain-Kennedy by holding events across the country over the next few weeks. The government in the Republic of Ireland took a rare action in November by giving the McCain-Kennedy bill its unanimous stamp of approval.

...Senator Edward M. Kennedy Remarks ILIR Immigration Rally March 8, 2006

It's an honor to join all of you here on Capitol Hill, and to thank you for all you're doing to bring immigrants out of the shadows of exploitation and fear, and into the mainstream of American life and the American dream.

Some in Congress want to build walls and dig trenches to keep America secure. But keeping America safe does not mean turning our backs on America's heritage and history.

...To our opponents who say so casually, "Turn them into criminals," we reply, "Turn them into Americans," and make America a stronger and better land...