The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is meeting with emigrant support groups in Chicago this afternoon as he continues his St Patrick’s Day US tour.

Mr Varadkar will discuss the plight of the undocumented Irish with local immigration organisations who receive government funding.

Late this evening, he will attend the annual Irish Fellowship St. Patrick's Day dinner which is attended by over 1,000 Irish Americans.

Undocumented

Mr Varadkar has already raised Irish emigration several times on his trip - including with US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office last night.

“No nation at the moment with as many ties as Ireland has with the United States has so few pathways to legal immigration,” he said.

“I know we have talked about this on a few occasions and when we have talked about it, we have found agreement.

“I want to thank you and also Congress for your support for the new E3 Visa Programme which will allow a limited number of Irish people to come here annually.”

The annual bowl of Shamrock presentation is underway here in the East Room of the White House: pic.twitter.com/KTVeGFXp0T

— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) March 14, 2019

Civil rights

At the ceremony, he also warned that the US should not lose sight of the things that have made America great already - including freedoms and civil rights.

At the event in the White house, President Trump said relations between Ireland the US were at an all-time high.

Describing Irish people he said: “They are smart. They are sharp. They are great - and they’re brutal enemies.”

With reporting from Shane Beatty in Washington