The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in New York, where he will meet groups who help Irish immigrants.

Charlie Flanagan is due to visit the Emerald Isle Immigration Centre in the Bronx, as well as the Aisling Community Centre in Yonkers.

Today's meetings pave the way for Minister Flanagan to sit down with President Obama’s Immigration Adviser on Tuesday when he'll discuss the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States.

Many US cities are reported to be considering immigration reform which would give legal status to almost 12 million undocumented residents.

Efforts have recently stalled amid political wrangling in Congress.