OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928
Category: Archive

He’s got it

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

“I am a lawfully permanent resident,” the Donegal-born priest said with evident delight when contacted this week by the Echo.
“It arrived three days later,” he said.
Fr. Gallagher was referring to the interval between his being told by immigration authorities that he was a getting a green card and one actually arriving in his mailbox.
He had been told the same thing five years ago but the coveted card had never arrived, a failure that led to the priest falling out of status and facing deportation just a few weeks ago.
Now the Gweedore man is looking forward to a worry free trip to Ireland later for his niece’s wedding.
“And I’ll be free to re-enter the United States,” he said.
Gallagher is still in a kind of exile despite his new found international freedom. He is living in Minnesota after losing his post serving three parishes in neighboring South Dakota.
He had been relieved of his duties there by the local bishop when deportation seemed inevitable.
Fr. Gallagher, a member of the Columban Fathers missionary order, has indicated that he wants to return to South Dakota in some capacity.
When asked if this would be possible in the near future he was cautious. “We’ll see,” he said.

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