Irish clergy in the US today helped form a Catholic lobby group calling for legal rights for up to 15 million undocumented immigrants in the country.
The Irish Apostolate, which gets Government funding, became a founder member of Justice for Immigrants, a national campaign for immigration reform.
The group, which represents more than 20 Catholic organisations, aims to change negative public attitudes towards immigrants and influence politicians to grant legal status to illegal workers and their families.
Speaking at the Washington launch, US Cardinal Theodore McCarrick said: "The goal of the campaign is to try to change laws so that immigrants can support their families in dignity, families can remain united, and the human rights of all are respected."
Irish emigrant groups in the US fear tough new Republican legislation could stop illegal emigrants from obtaining driver's licences.
This could impact negatively on the estimated 50,000 illegal Irish, many of whom are involved in the building trade. Irish Bishops Conference on Emigrants chairman and Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty last week visited Irish emigrant pastoral centres in Boston, New York and Philadelphia as part of the Supporting Irish Abroad (SIA) campaign.
In recent days, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have also led party delegations to New York and Washington to lobby for the Immigration Act of Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican Senator John Cain.
This legislation, if passed, would allow illegal emigrants to achieve legal status. Cardinal McCarrick added today: "US bishops have grown increasingly concerned with the current public discourse surrounding immigrants in which newcomers are characterised as a threat to the nation and not a benefit.
"Anti-immigrant fervour on TV and radio shows, citizens attempting to enforce immigration laws, and, most disturbingly, the enactment of restrictive immigration laws are evidence of this negative public environment.
"We are, and should remain, a nation of immigrants."
Member organisations include the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Migration and Refugee Services, The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW); the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and The Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network.
PA