Just keep calm over immigration, says Virginian(and Irish) woman for Trump
ONE of Donald Trump’s biggest Irish backers in the States has called for calm over fears that illegal Irish immigrants will be deported under his administration.
Alice Butler-Short, 73, who was born in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, and heads up Virginia Women For Trump, said the new President’s policy on immigration will not affect ‘good-living’ Irish illegals.
‘He is a deal-maker,’ she said. ‘When you are a deal maker you go for the max and that gives you room to negotiate.
‘His number one concern are the illegal criminals. I don’t think good-living Irish illegals, the ones who are here working hard and contributing to society should be concerned.
‘I would call on people to remain calm. If you are Irish and illegal in this country and have been working and contributing and don’t have a criminal record you are fine in my opinion.
‘If you have a criminal background in the US, no, I don’t think you are OK. If you come here illegally and then committed a crime, isn’t there a price to pay for that?’
Ms Butler-Short, a former legal assistant, left Ireland when she was 18. She lived in Hong Kong with her first husband, who later died before emigrating to the US and marrying her current husband, a US colonel.
She has lived in the US for over 30 years and is heavily involved with the Republican party in Virginia. On Friday night she hosted the inaugural Virginia For Women For Trump Ball, in Falls Church, Virginia.
‘I also know there is concern over US-based jobs in Ireland,’ she said, referring to President Trump’s plans to lure multinationals back to the US with a new corporate tax regime.
‘I am sure it is contributing to the anti-Trump feeling in Ireland. I cannot predict what will happen. But I agree with keeping as many jobs in the US as we need to make our economy economically strong and to take care of our own people first. That’s what we should do. But I don’t think that means that we won’t have other companies in Ireland.’
Ms Butler-Short, who has met the new President a number of times, said she was shocked by the reaction to his election by people in Ireland.
‘I know there has been a lot of negativity,’ she said.
‘I am so shocked by the reaction in Ireland. Unfortunately, people in Ireland are not invested enough in the US to stop and question.
‘They must take it as it is. People do not understand this country and the value of our constitution. We have had to fight back to reclaim those principles.’
Responding to calls from some quarters for Taoiseach Enda Kenny to cancel this year’s trip to the White House on St Patrick’s Day, Ms ButlerShort said she was horrified by the suggestion.
‘Do not make me ashamed of where I come from,’ she said.
‘Do not make me ashamed of my heritage. Do not do that to us. Whoever is saying that does not have the right to speak for Irish people all over Ireland and here.
‘They do not have the intelligence to look at this man and see that he is unifier.
‘I can see President Trump visiting Ireland. He loves Ireland and the people of Ireland should extend a warm welcome to him. Get over it. He is our President. Open your eyes, open your eyes and see him for what he is because as America goes, so goes the world.’
‘Good-living Irish illegals’ ‘He loves Ireland and its people’