Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel’s legislation to change the status of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees working in pre-clearance in Shannon and Dublin airports in Ireland was signed into law by President Obama today. The bill affects 15 CBP employees in Ireland with 20 others at other locations originally hired as temporary workers. Over time the positions evolved into permanent positions and the bill changes their status.

These appointments date to the 1990’s with Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Rep. Engel’s legislation (HR 1517) allows these employees to remain in Ireland as career Federal employees, rather than requiring a return to the U.S. and the dismantling of established lives in Ireland.

Rep. Engel said, “Because an agreement between the United States and Ireland requires that all pre-clearance employees be ‘permanent’ employees, and by definition employees on temporary overseas appointments are ‘limited’ employees (albeit in this case, limited for an indefinite duration), the status of the workers had CBP in violation of the agreement. Continued employment of these individuals is in the best interest of CBP and America as the work is critical to protecting our Nation’s borders.” 

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