There is concern in the voices, be they Antrim accents or Ballina brogues. There is fear too for what may be on the way.
Undocumented Irish immigrants in New York City and other large US cities are wary of the coming months.
Following swiftly on from his inauguration on January 20th, Donald Trump wasted little time getting to grips with dozens of executive orders, some of which may sail through Congress barely opposed, while others will be challenged at every turn.
With talk of extreme measures such as mass deportations, it is an unsettling time for many Irish-born residents of the United States who do not have US citizenship.
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Speaking in midtown Manhattan, Brian*, an Irish construction worker in his 20s, said people were talking about the threat of mass deportations.
“From what I hear though, this has been in conversation for years, something Irish immigrants, at least the ones without papers, have always been worried about,” he said.
“Whether they’ll happen, who’s to know? I’m not here long myself, but I feel for lads who are, the ones who would do anything to get ‘settled’ so they’re not looking over their shoulders all the time.”
The US president plans to overhaul the country’s immigration system, aiming to introduce new limits to both legal and illegal immigration.
One facet of the change is his order regarding birthright citizenship, which will, if legislation is passed, deny US citizenship to anyone born on US soil, but who fails to meet new criteria.
Children born to parents who are in the country illegally, as well as those born to parents who are in the US on a temporary basis, will not be awarded US citizenship under this proposed legislation.
As Trump’s deportations begin, what now for the undocumented Irish?
Legal challenges have already begun, as birthright citizenship is protected by the 14th Amendment, which states: “All persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
Another New York-based Irishman Martin* holds a similar view to his compatriot.
“I would not really be a great follower of politics, but what’s been happening the past few months, years even, you can’t get away from. My situation is up in the air at the moment,” he said.
“I am working a job I have little interest in, as, despite having qualifications and experience in another field, I can’t do what I’m trained for.
“With previous presidents, from what I gather, there were chances of amnesties and major visa programmes, but this time around that’s looking unrealistic. But, who knows, things might change.”
Immigration raids, which were expected to target major cities across the US, have not materialised in the days following Mr Trump’s inauguration, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said last week it was to end a policy that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ ability to arrest undocumented individuals near sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals and places of worship.
The DHS has also recommenced its migrant protection protocols, sometimes referred to as the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, which will force asylum seekers from that country to wait in Mexico until they appear before immigration authorities in the US.
Barbara McCormick, a New York-based Irish immigration attorney who has worked extensively with Irish nationals in the US, remains positive.
“The important thing is to try our best to stay calm for the time being: a lot of what President Trump is doing will stoke excitement in his supporters while creating panic in the immigrant community,” she said.
“This, combined with misinformation and fearmongering in the media and now-increased lack of fact-checking on social media, is deeply unsettling for everyone.”
Ms McCormick said that, realistically, it would be impossible for 11 to 12 million people to be deported overnight.
“Comparatively speaking, the number of Irish undocumented people is small, but even if not being targeted directly, there is probably going to be an increased risk of being caught up in widespread raids or other aggressive policies,” she said.
“The priority, though, appears to be undocumented immigrants with serious criminal convictions such as suspected gang members, which was also a priority for the Biden administration.”
Ms McCormick said she hoped the contribution of undocumented workers to the US economy would be acknowledged by the new president.
“All we can do is hope that once the dust settles, the Trump administration will recognise that hard-working immigrants are important to American interests and making America great – in the same way that the Reagan and Bush Republican administrations did before him,” she said.
“I work with a lot of artists, entertainers and theatres, so I hope the new administration will continue to appreciate the value of international arts and artists to American culture – especially given the long-standing history of friendship that has existed between Ireland and the United States.”
Plans for mass deportations may have to be put on hold, according to NBC News, at least until more funding for such initiatives is released by Congress.
About 230,000 undocumented immigrants were returned to their native countries from the US last year, it is believed, and Mr Trump aims to increase that figure considerably in 2025.
For now, Brian, Martin and thousands more, remain cautious.
* Names have been changed as the two immigrants wished to remain anonymous
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