February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“It’s like a dream. It’s great that he’s here,” said Lisa Rodgers, the Donegal native’s American-born wife.
Michael Rodgers, a musician from Dungloe, returned to Ireland two summers ago when his mother became seriously ill.
Later, when he attempted to return to the U.S., he discovered that his entry was barred despite the fact that his wife was a citizen, that he had received U.S. work certification and had a job lined up in Florida.
The Rodgers case made headlines similar to that generated by fellow Donegal man Chris Kane who had faced a similar immigration situation. Kane arrived back in the U.S. a few days before Rodgers.
The block on Rodgers’ return, according to Lisa Rodgers, was due to a misunderstanding with an immigration attorney and a failure to file the paperwork necessary to clear Rodgers for an emergency trip outside the U.S. during the period leading up to his green card interview.
“It’s like he never left. I can’t believe it’s been two years,” said Lisa Rodgers.
The couple will now be filing to renew Michael’s work permit and to convert a K3 spouse’s visa, issued by the U.S. embassy in Dublin, into a green card.
$18.5M FOR IFI
The International Fund for Ireland has secured $18.5 million for the 2005 fiscal year. The money is included in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill passed by the House of Representatives.
The funding level is the same as last year and was secured with support from both parties in Congress. The bill now goes to the Senate.
“The work of the International Fund for Ireland is now more important than ever to ensuring a lasting peace in the north of Ireland,” Rep. Joe Crowley, who worked to secure the funding, said in a statement.
NEUTRAL ON U.S. RSF BAN
The Irish government has responded to the State Department’s designation of Republican Sinn F