Saint Patrick’s in July

Is San Diego due for a wave of undocumented Irish immigrants? With increasingly hard economic times on the Emerald Isle, officials there are predicting that 20,000 undocumented Irish will try to get into America during the next year; 50,000 illegal Irish aliens are already estimated to be in the country. Chicago is said to be the most hospitable destination for the incoming hordes. Brendan Magee of the Chicago Irish Immigrant Support told the Belfast Telegraph that a Chicago city ordinance prohibits police from asking about immigration status. But Bernadette Cashman of Irish Outreach San Diego warned the paper’s readers that San Diego is another matter. “It’s a different outlook here because you cannot hide as you can in other parts of the country, because we’re under the microscope, if you will.” She added that “significant numbers” of the illegal immigrants she deals with come from Northern Ireland, with spouses attempting to follow their partners back to America. … If it’s not a good time to be illegally Irish in San Diego, it’s another story for legal visitors from the Middle East. “Contrary to popular belief, increasing numbers of visitors from the region are continuing to travel to the US,” says a recent press release from Hyatt Hotels Global. “With numerous popular tourist sites across the country, the US remains an ideal holiday spot for many Arab travelers, particularly among families and the younger generation.” Among local Arab-only bargains: “Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, located in the Gaslamp Quarter’s waterfront, offers guests a combination of family fun and savings including 25% discount on hotel rooms and free food for two kids that lasts until September 8.” … On a negative lodging industry note, the O’Reilly ETech convention, an event at which trendy computer applications are unveiled, is leaving San Diego for San Jose. This year’s event, held in March at the bay-front Hyatt Regency, saw a falloff in attendance.