Ireland’s Emigration Museum offers the US President the opportunity to see immigration from a different angle

Open Letter Invites Trump To Change His Views On Immigration.

President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration is well documented and debated, so when EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum heard about the POTUS visiting Irish shores, they felt a responsibility to extend an invitation. Through a full page open letter, they asked him to visit and reframe his views on immigration.

Over 10 million people emigrated from Ireland over the centuries – in many cases escaping famine, political unrest and civil war, others seeking opportunity and change. They settled all over the world as immigrants, and EPIC documents the stories of the impact they’ve had.

“EPIC represents an alternative voice on the global movement of people. We have documented the positive impact that Irish emigration has had on the world, and we think it’s time the conversation on emigration changed. This invitation goes out to President Trump with sincerity – come experience a different viewpoint on immigration and it might just change your perspective” says Mervyn Greene, Managing and Museum Director of EPIC.

The letter asks the President to consider his family’s own emigration story from Germany, and points out a number of examples of how Ireland’s emigrant stories have impacted his own life.

An excerpt from the letter:

“Allow us to share a few of our stories that might hit close to home for you. Irish emigrants played a huge part in shaping the Manhattan skyline. Descendants of Irish emigrants have held your very position in the Oval Office. The White House itself was designed by James Hoban, an Irish architect. Your Vice President Mike Pence is the grandson of an Irish emigrant who escaped war and poverty in 1923. You might even come across descendants of his great-grandmother, who hailed from Doonbeg.”

EPIC’s open letter was placed in the Clare Champion Newspaper, the biggest newspaper in County Clare, where President Trump will be staying at his family-owned golf club in Doonbeg during his visit to Ireland. As a final enticement to the President, the letter suggests his visit would take less time than a round of golf.

For images, please click here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c1htguwzwgqdme6/AAAGQDzJHHrciWGenxDQUlNfa?dl=0

For further information please contact Darragh Doyle, Head of Communications, EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum – [email protected]