Gerry Adams has hit out after he was refused entry to a St Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House for “security” reasons.
The Sinn Fein leader turned up for the annual Irish reception hosted by President Barack Obama yesterday evening but was forced to wait for 90 minutes to get clearance.
In a statement confirming the incident, he said Sinn Fein "will not sit at the back of the bus for anyone".
He said: "After two decades of travelling back and forth to the USA and countless meetings in the White House with successive US presidents, this is an unacceptable development.
"It is obvious that there remain some within the US administration who seek to treat Sinn Fein differently."
While Mr Adams was declined entry to the get-together, his party deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were both admitted.
"I had received my usual invitation to attend the St Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House and was pleased to accept," said Mr Adams.
"When I arrived the staff at the White House informed me that there was an issue of 'security'."
Mr Adams and other Sinn Fein representatives have to regularly go through additional searches and scrutiny when travelling to and from the US.
"This morning Martin McGuinness, Mary Lou McDonald and I met with the Congressional Friends of Ireland," said Mr Adams.
"They too shared our grave disappointment at the White House situation and expressed their determination to have this issue resolved.
"Sinn Fein will not sit at the back of the bus for anyone.
"We are elected to represent citizens and we will do this."
The Sinn Fein leader said he was hopeful controversy around his White House invitation will help lead to a resolution.
