Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been accused of hypocrisy by lobbying for a better deal for Irish immigrants in the US, while the Government is mistreating immigrants in Ireland.
The claim was made by Labour Party deputy Willie Penrose at an anti-deportation protest march in Athlone on Saturday. "I have two uncles who emigrated to America many years ago, and they rang me recently to ask me what we are doing with immigrants in Ireland," said Mr Penrose.
"My part of the world was ripped apart by people having to emigrate to earn a living down the years. We should be offering support and succour to people coming to our shores now."
The protest march - organised by Athlone Families Together - was attended by 400 people. They included many people friendly with Nigerian women Iyabo Nwanze and Elizabeth Odunsi, who were deported from Ireland on March 14th.
Cathaoirleach of the Senate Mary O'Rourke said she had been speaking to the women during the past week, and would be making further representations to Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
She said the women were "heartbroken". She had come to know the women before their deportation from Athlone.
Senator O'Rourke agreed with the sentiment expressed by the anti-deportation campaign that mothers should not be separated from their children.
The return of the mothers to be with their children was "sheer practicality" not "sugary sentimentality", she said.
They each brought one of their children with them, but left another four children behind.
The four children are now thought be in the care of the Nigerian community in the midlands.