Republican Immigrants Face US Injustice System

Recently a slew of former Republican activists have faced the wrath of a country that was in part built upon the backs of Irishmen and women. After a period of calm following the signing of the GFA, the persecution of Irish Republican ex-pats in America has resumed with renewed fervor.

These are men who are wanted by loyalist murder squads in their own country and fled to an apparent safe-haven in the US. They raised or continued to raise their families until the Bush Administration swooped into power. They have since been exploited and subjected to injustice at the hands of the United State's immigration services.

In November of 2003, after living for almost a decade as a residents of New Jersey, former member of the INLA Malachy McAllister and his family were denied an appeal against their deportation from the United States.

That same month, Ciaran Ferry's asylum appeal was denied. Ferry, a former member of the Provisional IRA, has been living in the US for a number of years with his wife Heaven. He was released from Long Kesh as a part of the Good Friday Agreement. A site detailing his persecution and status can be found here.

John Eddie McNicholl, a former member of the INLA was deported from the US in the summer of 2003. McNicholl, according to a statement made by the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement was a member of the "Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), a terrorist organization in Northern Ireland". Truth is that the INLA has NEVER appeared on the United States' list of recognised terrorist groups. This is a violation of mandates of Congress regarding the procedure of identifying a "terrorist."

The hypocrisy of the current US Administration is sickening. It's stranglehold on Irish nationalists within the American Irish communities is ever-strengthening. Fears of being labeled a terrorism supporter keep people sitting back while people are unjustly ousted from a country that was founded with ideals of justice and freedom as its building blocks.

The US/UK Extradition Treaty is just another stake in the heart of democracy and a huge threat to Irish Republicans living in America. Do not let this "Treaty" be silently enforced.

SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE FASCISM  ¶ 4:51 a.m.