Scores of families of illegal immigrants in the US will today attend a mass meeting in Dublin.
The relatives will call on the US government to pass legislation to regularise the status of thousands of undocumented workers who are unable to travel home for fear they will not be able to re-enter the US.
The rally, which is organised by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR), will be addressed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and Opposition politicians.
Mr Ahern yesterday announced an additional €37,000 funding for the ILIR.
The Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants, which is also supporting the rally in Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge, called for the undocumented to be given the respect and dignity afforded to citizens.
Mr Ahern and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have repeatedly raised the issue with US politicians, including at last month's St Patrick's Day events in Washington.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and the party's emigrant affairs spokesman Paul Connaughton will also attend today's meeting.
Mr Connaughton called on all families in Ireland who have relatives living and working in the US to attend the rally.
Mr Kenny previously demanded a bilateral arrangement between Ireland and the US to deal with the issue.
Fine Gael and Labour recently published a joint policy document on the issue, Reaching Out: Caring for the Irish Abroad.
