‘If John Cunningham is not safe, no one is safe’ – The Boston Globe
Irish Network Boston
John Cunningham has an electrical contracting business and is chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Boston.
They came for John Cunningham on a sunny evening last week, showing up at his house in Brighton like early dinner guests.
They were federal immigration agents, and they were there to throw John Cunningham out of the country he has called home for 18 years.
Advertisement
John Cunningham, 38, has an electrical contracting business. He has paid taxes. He has done much to improve the lives of those around him.
But what he does not have is a green card, and so the federal agents brought him to the jail in South Bay and put him in a cell with the rest of the common criminals. Because in Donald Trumps America, thats what John Cunningham is, a common criminal.
Get Fast Forward in your inbox:
Forget yesterday's news. Get what you need today in this early-morning email.
Now this would come as a great surprise to the young people that Cunningham helped as chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Boston. It would come as a shock to the many immigrants, not just the Irish but those from other countries, that Cunningham has helped over the years. It would come as an insult to a very kind priest named Dan Finn, who runs the Irish Pastoral Center in Dorchester and who knows that John Cunningham is a good man.
Chris Lavery, Cunninghams lawyer, told me there is no underlying criminal charge. Cunningham was grabbed for overstaying the 90-day visa he received 18 years ago.
Lavery was trying to determine whether Cunningham missed a court hearing after a customer filed a complaint that Cunningham took and cashed a deposit check for more than $1,000 for electrical work he didnt perform. That would have produced a warrant for his arrest, but not by immigration agents.
Advertisement
You would think a guy like him, with no criminal convictions, would not be a priority, Lavery said.
But the days of immigrants who kept their noses clean not having to worry about being deported are gone. Under the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been very active. And ordinary, hard-working, tax-paying immigrants are being targeted the same as hardcore criminals.
In the midst of all this round-em-up-and-throw-em-out talk, a question has to be asked: What is gained by arresting, detaining, and deporting someone like John Cunningham?
Nothing is gained but ruining a good mans life, said Sean Moynihan, head of a Boston consulting firm called The Moynihan Group. John makes this city, this state, this country better. So how is throwing him out helping anyone?
Cunningham is widely known in Bostons Irish ex-pat community. He was a fixture at the Gaelic Athletic Association fields at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton. He was especially proud of getting more kids from all backgrounds playing the traditional Irish games of hurling and Gaelic football.
It is because of Cunninghams prominence in that community that his arrest has sent shivers through it.
If theyll go after John Cunningham, theyll go after anybody, said Ronnie Millar, the executive director of the Irish International Immigrant Center in Boston. John is so well-known and so well-liked. If John Cunningham is not safe, no one is safe.
That is a new reality that is hitting not just the Irish, but other immigrant communities from East Boston to Lawrence, from Worcester to Springfield, and everywhere in between. Being a good person means nothing. Round em up.
Kieran OSullivan, an immigration counselor at the Irish Pastoral Center, said Cunningham was among several Irish people detained this month. Like Millars organization, his has been inundated with frantic, worried calls, especially as word of Cunninghams arrest spread. He spoke with a couple that is making contingency plans for what to do with their children if theyre arrested.
People are nervous about going to work, OSullivan said. What to do if both parents are picked up. This is driving people further underground. Its a very difficult time. We need to move away from viewing immigrants as a threat to this country.
Fat chance that will happen with a new administration being cheered on by a sizable portion of Americans that does indeed view immigrants as a threat to this country.
OSullivan likes to remind people that 60,000 immigrants are serving in the American military. Members of his family from Kerry have been part of immigration waves going back to the 1950s, serving in every major US war since Korea.
Our country would be more secure if people are allowed to come out of the shadows, OSullivan said.
John Cunningham was just out of his teens when he came to Boston from Donegal. Like a lot of young Irish, he quickly found work, a Gaelic football team, and a supportive ex-pat community in and around Boston. He never went back to Ireland, not just because Boston was his new home but because he knew if the immigration authorities realized he had overstayed his 90-day visa, hed be barred from the United States for at least 10 years.
He would have done anything, paid anything to obtain legal status, but he couldnt. The same government that gladly gave him a tax ID number wouldnt give him a way to get legal. Cunningham worked for years lobbying for immigration reform, trying to create a system that would allow millions of immigrants to legalize their status.
Some worry that Cunninghams willingness to speak publicly about the need to reform the immigration system made him an easy target for that same flawed system.
Chris Lavery, his lawyer, visited him in jail, hard by the Expressway. Cunningham is despondent. He has spent half his life here.
Hes in lockdown most of the time. Its unclear how long he will be held before hes deported. He has no right to a hearing because of the visa waiver program under which he entered the country.
What does this accomplish? Chris Lavery asked.
The short answer is it accomplishes nothing. For those who would ask, What part of illegal dont you understand, Id ask, What part of pointless dont you understand?
John Cunningham hails from a small, beautiful place in southwest Donegal called Glencolmcille. It is an Irish-speaking area, and its named after St. Columba, the Irish missionary who brought Christianity to Scotland.
If St. Columba came to this country today and needed more than 90 days to spread the word of God, he wouldnt be called a saint. Hed be called a criminal.
More here:
'If John Cunningham is not safe, no one is safe' - The Boston Globe
- Immigration reform urgently needed to support migrant nurses and prevent exodus, Royal College of Nursing says - Electronic Immigration Network - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Former Atty. General John Ashcroft weighs in on immigration reform - The Sentinel - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Southern Az Rep. Ciscomani says comprehensive immigration reform not likely in Washington - TucsonSentinel.com - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Texas judge suspends Biden immigration reform policy - Avery Journal Times - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Century-old U.S. nativism keep immigration reform elusive. We have to stop it - NorthJersey.com - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Latino evangelicals push for immigration reform ahead of election - Baptist News Global - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Sen. Baldwin talks rural issues, immigration reform at Merrill Dairy Farm - WJFW-TV - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- Latino Evangelicals Push for Immigration Reform Ahead of Election - The Roys Report - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- PANEL: Impact of U.S. Immigration Policy on Black Americans - Immigration Blog - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Elizabeth Warren talks immigration reform at Kam Man Food in Quincy - AOL - June 8th, 2024 [June 8th, 2024]
- Migrants wait in vain for progress on comprehensive immigration reform Florida Phoenix - Florida Phoenix - June 8th, 2024 [June 8th, 2024]
- Don't expect immigration reform before November, Catholic expert says - Crux Now - June 8th, 2024 [June 8th, 2024]
- A Century of Immigration-Control Failure The Future of Freedom Foundation - The Future of Freedom Foundation - June 8th, 2024 [June 8th, 2024]
- Bipartisan Struggle: The Stalled US Immigration Reform | National World News | bhpioneer.com - Black Hills Pioneer - June 8th, 2024 [June 8th, 2024]
- I navigated a complex immigration system: Pramila Jayapal - The American Bazaar - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Byron York: The effect of immigration reform on American workers - Washington Examiner - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Rep. Veronica Escobar Approaches Immigration Reform With Hope, Promise, and Unity - AOL - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- WILLIAMS: Secure Our Borders First Before Immigration Reform - NH Journal - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- Hollywood actress Diane Guerrero advocates for immigration reform - The Daily Titan - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- Immigration Parole: The Executive Branch's Shadow Immigration System | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- FAIR: While Congress Dithers, February Border Encounter Numbers Soar | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- BuildForce Canada report gives associations a 'leg to stand on' for immigration reform - Daily Commercial News - March 16th, 2024 [March 16th, 2024]
- Our view: Immigration reform don't bet on it - East Oregonian - March 16th, 2024 [March 16th, 2024]
- How does immigration impact the U.S. economy? - The Fulcrum - March 16th, 2024 [March 16th, 2024]
- Fiasco of Linking Immigration Reform and Foreign Aid Signals Need for Leadership in the Congress - The New York Sun - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- After leading trip to southern border, Central Washington's Dan Newhouse says immigration reform can't wait - The Spokesman Review - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- Immigration reform for Dreamers: The roulette game with DACA needs to end - The Ledger - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- For Biden and Democrats, immigration reform is a wicked policy problem - Berkshire Eagle - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- When It Comes to Immigration Reform, Don't Forget Black Voters - Newsweek - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Video: Opinion | Things Fall Apart: How the Middle Ground on Immigration Collapsed - The New York Times - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Johnson: Now is not the time for comprehensive immigration reform - The Hill - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform keeps millions of mixed-status families together - FWD.us - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Sherrill Pushes for Improved Border Security and Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Urges House Speaker to Take ... - Mikie Sherrill - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- U.S. Supreme Court says Texas can't block federal agents from the border - The Texas Tribune - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform strikes out with House Republicans - The Week - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Opinion | Making Changes to U.S. Immigration Policy - The New York Times - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Growing Michigan Together's report highlights licensing and immigration reform - Mackinac Center for Public Policy - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Johnston, Bennet and Hickenlooper urge immigration reform | Colorado In DC - coloradopolitics.com - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Polis, 8 other Dem governors call on Biden, Congress to act on immigration - RealVail - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Vocal advocate for immigration reform Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Houma-Thibodaux dies unexpectedly at 63 - The Dialog - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Senators Tell House Republicans To Take It or Leave It on Immigration Reform and Border Security - The New York Sun - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Outgoing Silicon Valley lawmaker says big tech needs immigration reform - POLITICO - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Immigration Reform: An Awakening Or Political Reality? - InsiderNJ - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Gavin Newsom Wants Fox News Viewers to Hear Him Out - The New York Times - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- It will take a Republican to solve America's immigration issues ... - Baltimore Sun - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- Why pairing border security in place of aid for Ukraine isn't so easy - KGUN 9 Tucson News - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- To Beat Trump, Nikki Haley Is Trying to Speak to All Sides of a ... - The New York Times - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- Shutdown Averted but Congress Leaves the Border in Chaos ... - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- ICYMI: Sen. Cramer Op-Ed: Immigration Reform Promotes a Healthy ... - Kevin Cramer - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Will Border Security Issues Force Congress To Take Action On ... - AgFax - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- French Senate Toughens Immigration Bill The European Conservative - The European Conservative - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- UPDATE: UC needs more time to study potential hiring of ... - EdSource - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Biden Admin. Admits Its 'Asylum Officer Rule' Will Further Impoverish ... - Immigration Blog - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- FAIR: Congress Prepares to Fund the Border Crisis Into 2024 While ... - PR Newswire - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- OPINION: To solve teacher shortages, lets open pathways for ... - The Hechinger Report - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Hochul says NY will not give state work permits to migrants: 'I'm ... - New York Daily News - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- FBI Director Wray says border gotaways a source of 'great concern' for agency - Yahoo News - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- John Lewis: Courage, Activism, and the Pursuit of Equality - InDepthNH.org - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to vote in favor of stopgap funding bill to ... - The Daily Gazette - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Vasquez unveils package of border security and immigration reform ... - Santa Fe New Mexican - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Utah advocacy group rallies for immigration reform - KSL.com - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Israel war, border security are top 2 threats facing the US - WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- The History of the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall | TIME - TIME - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Migrant crisis stresses services in South Coast - The New Bedford Light - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Letters editor must have fun | Letters to the Editor | chronicleonline.com - Citrus County Chronicle - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Capito says additional funding on immigration issues needs to focus ... - West Virginia MetroNews - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Sisters of Charity, BVM Celebrates 190 Years From Dublin to ... - Global Sisters Report - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Americans Concerned Mideast Terrorism Could Spill into the United ... - Immigration Blog - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Why right-wingers think a uniparty controls Congress - Vox.com - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Capito: Election of New House Speaker 'Welcome News' - Wheeling Intelligencer - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Examining The State of Immigration Reform and the Nation's Asylum ... - InsiderNJ - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Opinion | The Cost of Inaction on Immigration - The New York Times - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Why Can't We Stop Unauthorized Immigration? Because It Works. - The New York Times - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Confessions of a birthright citizen - Wisconsin Examiner - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Schumer, Jeffries are laying low on the migrant crisis. Here's why. - POLITICO - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Op-ed: Biden should give immigrants the dignity of a work permit - Chicago Tribune - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Growing Haitian immigrant community in Springfield faces ... - Dayton Daily News - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Republicans should impeach the migrant crisis, not the president - The Michigan Daily - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- LEE HAMILTON: Why even popular legislation gets hung up in ... - Crow River Media - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Reps. Glenn 'GT' Thompson and Dan Meuser voted to keep ... - Lock Haven Express - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]