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Voice of the invisible undocumented immigrant

By Lauren Johnston | amNY.com

March 14, 2008

We haven't heard much about the Irish during the raging debate over immigration policy reform and undocumented immigrants in the United States.

But they are certainly part of the community of undocumented people that is millions strong, though living in the shadows as they await an opportunity for citizenship.

Ciaran Staunton, one of the founding members of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, says there are about 50,000 undocumented Irish in the United States and about 20,000 of those are in New York City.

amNewYork spoke to Seamus - who came to New York from Ireland 10 years ago and works full-time in Manhattan - about the challenges of surviving here without legal citizenship. He talked about health care, legal issues, and even his admiration for the American system of government.