“We have a Christmas tree and a turkey; though we haven’t done much shopping; it’s not going to be a big Christmas in our house,” Malachy McAllister said this week.
McAllister’s appeal against deportation is currently before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.
The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week allowed Bernadette McAllister and the couple’s four children to remain in the U.S. for another few weeks. They had faced a court order of “voluntary departure” which was due to expire on Dec. 17. Now they can remain in the country until Jan. 16.
“What we will be facing after Christmas is unknown, but at least we’ll be home for Christmas. We’ll take it from there, day by day,” Malachy McAllister said.
“We would just like to thank all who have helped us in recent weeks and we would like to wish them the best for Christmas and New Year.”
Political and community support for the McAllisters has been considerable. It has ranged from the family’s congressman, Rep. Steve Rothman, to New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and New York Rep. Peter King.
King, in conjunction with the Irish American Unity Conference, this week crafted two versions a “dear colleague” letter in support of the McAllisters and also Ciaran Ferry, a former IRA man from Belfast who is imprisoned in Colorado while also fighting deportation.
Early co-signers of the letters, which have been sent to Department of Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge, include Reps. Rothman, Joe Crowley, John Sweeney, Ed Towns, Carolyn McCarthy and Eliot Engel.
The letter on behalf of the McAllisters calls for a suspension of deportation proceedings.
The letter regarding Ciaran Ferry also requests suspension as well as a release from custody in Golden, Colorado on an “Order of Supervision.”
The letters follow a recent joint statement by 12 major Irish-American organizations in support of Ferry, the McAllisters, Paul Harkin, a former IRA member now living in Chicago, and John Edward McNicholl, who, like McAllister, is an ex-member of the Irish National liberation Army. McNicholl was living in Philadelphia with his U.S. citizen wife and family before being deported to Ireland in July.