Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Fri 05 May 2007Irish illegals to benefit from US draft Bill on immigrationCampaigners on behalf of thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States have welcomed an agreement between Democratic and Republican senators that could allow an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to remain in the country legally, writes Denis Stauntonin Washington.Under the draft Bill, yet to be approved by the senate and the House of Representatives, undocumented immigrants who entered the US before January 1st this year would be offered a temporary residency permit while they await a new "Z Visa" to live and work lawfully.