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Are there really 50,000 illegal Irish in the USA?

Cork boy 55 · 2011-12-18 20:08:59

I hope this is right forum for this thread. As a spin off from this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056487096 I have some questions to answer. The figure of 50,000 illegal irish immigrants in the USA is given in the media constantly for many years now as if it is gospel. My question is how many…

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18-12-2011 9:08pm

#1

Cork boy 55

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I hope this is right forum for this thread.

As a spin off from this thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056487096
I have some questions to answer.

The figure of 50,000 illegal irish immigrants in the USA is given in the media
constantly for many years now as if it is gospel.

My question is how many illegal irish immigrants are in the USA in 2011?
Where does this figure of 50,000 come from?
How is it calculated?

Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore, has revealed the prospect of a comprehensive reform bill for the 50,000 undocumented Irish and millions of others illegal in the U.S. is unlikely, given the anti immigration climate.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/President-Obamas-visit-to-Ireland-to-highlight-undocumented-Irish-in-the-US-119680669.html

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#2 18-12-2011 9:10pm
paky

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yes its true and they all dress like they're stuck in the 1980s

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#3 18-12-2011 10:59pm
HavingCrack

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The majority of them have been there since the 80's and early to mid 90's rather than from the new wave of emigration. 50,000 does seem quite high though, I'd imagine it's probably closer to 30,000.

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#4 06-02-2012 7:53pm
rockonollie

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i know that most of them are from decades ago......but i'm sure that at least a small number of J1s are overstaying now.

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#5 07-02-2012 2:36pm
Fr Tod Umptious

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You would imaging that the majority of the pre 1990 ones are now legal due to Morrison and Donnelly visas

When I lived there is the late '90s early '00s most of the illegals were pre 1997, pre the start of the Celtic tiger, a lot went home in the '00s due to the good conditions at home and the post 911 security changes.

I'd say any new illegals are young people layed off by the crash, but I doubt the numbers going over are as high as in previous decades

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