Irish PM uses White House visit to take Donald Trump to task on immigration
Intervention during friends of Ireland lunch marks change from friendly relationship with Obama
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ireland’s softly-spoken Prime Minister, or Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, is perhaps an unlikely person to lecture the belligerent new US President on his controversial immigration policies.
Past meetings in Washington ahead of St Patrick’s Day have seen Mr Kenny stick to friendly jibes about former Vice President Joe Biden’s tendency to waffle, and he once presented Barack Obama with a book of WB Yeats’ poetry.
But at this year’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, an unexpected intervention by Mr Kenny about the vast contribution of migrants to the US came as a major departure from form.
“There are millions out there who want to play their part for America – if you like, who want to make America great,” he said, giving Mr Trump a pointed look.
“You heard that before?”
But Mr Kenny’s dig was not so much targeting the President’s “Muslim travel ban”, as it was about addressing the issue of the US’s large illegal Irish migrant population.
An estimated 50,000 Irish people are thought to be living in the USA without a visa.
“We would like this to be sorted,” Mr Kenny said.
“It would remove a burden of so many that they could stand in the light and say: ‘Now I’m free to contribute to America as I know I can.’ That’s what people want.”
Warming to his theme, he added: “I'm always struck by the American national anthem … For us … you say the land of the free and the home of the brave. Our people are as brave as ever but maybe not as free.”
“This administration, working with Democrats and Republicans, I hope can sort this out for once and for all.”
Mr Kenny’s speech followed a difficult day for the Trump administration after several judges moved to block his ban on entry to the US for the nationals of six predominantly Muslim countries.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments