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THE MIGRANT RIGHTS Centre wants the government to allow undocumented workers regularise their situations.
The centre will today appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs to discuss the plight of undocumented migrants in Ireland.
The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) is made up of over 1,500 undocumented migrants living in Ireland and the group is campaigning for the introduction of a regularisation scheme.
Research carried out by MRCI revealed that 1 in 5 undocumented migrants have lived in Ireland for more than 10 years, 89% are employed and 1 in 3 have been in the same job for more than five years.
Edel McGinley, director of MRCI, told TheJournal.ie that while Irish politicians lobby for undocumented Irish people abroad, they must be mindful of those in the same situation on our shores.
“Undocumented people in Ireland are the same as the Irish undocumented in the US: they are working, they’re part of the community, they’re paying tax, and they’ve been here a long time.
A straightforward and transparent regularisation scheme is a sensible, practical and cost-effective way to address this ongoing issue. It’s what the Irish government is lobbying for in the US; introducing it here would have the added benefit of strengthening our representations there.
She added that undocumented children face “high levels of stress”.
“If we fail to regularise undocumented children and young people, we’re in breach of our international human rights obligations.”
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Irish people caught illegally in the States get deported.
@Dermot Mc Carthy: and rightly so.
@Dermot Mc Carthy:
We physically deport very few bogus asylum seekers or illegal immigrants. The average is less than 300 per year.
2015;
There were 251 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants removed from the country last year, up from 111 in 2014. Of those removed, Brazil makes up the largest single nationality, with 9.6%.
2014;
111 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants were deported from the State, 87 EU nationals were returned to their countries of origin on foot of an EU Removal Order and 17 asylum seekers were transferred under the Dublin Regulation to the EU member stated in which they first applied for asylum.
2013;
210 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants were deported from the State in 2013. The top 5 nationalities deported were from Nigeria, China, Mauritius, Albania and Pakistan. A total of 86 persons were deported on charter flights and 124 on scheduled commercial aircraft. In 2013, Ireland participated in 10 chartered deportation flights, 5 of which were organised in conjunction with EU agency FRONTEX which coordinates removals throughout the EU.
A further 84 asylum seekers were transferred to the EU member state in which they first applied for asylum under the Dublin Regulation. In addition, a further 63 EU nationals were returned to their countries of origin on foot of an EU Removal Order.
2012;
In addition, 298 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants were deported from the State in 2012. The top 5 nationalities deported were from Nigeria, Pakistan, Georgia, Tanzania (these persons had claimed asylum as Somali but were shown to be Tanzanian through cooperation with UK) and South Africa. A total of 111 persons were deported on charter flights and 187 on scheduled commercial aircraft. In 2012, Ireland participated in 9 chartered deportation flights, 7 of which were organised in conjunction with EU agency FRONTEX which coordinates removals throughout the EU and 2 were joint operations with the UK.
2011;
In addition, 280 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants were deported from the State in 2011. The top 5 nationalities deported were Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan, Moldova and Georgia. A total of 111 persons were deported on charter flights and 169 on scheduled commercial aircraft. In 2011, Ireland participated in 7 chartered deportation flights all of which were organised in conjunction with EU agency FRONTEX which coordinates removals throughout the EU.
A further 144 asylum seekers were transferred to the EU member state in which they first applied for asylum under the Dublin Regulation.
Ah the morning in the Journal where all the deplorables come to prey. The young and ignorant that haven’t left their own postal code.
@ gobby johnson. I lived in Canada for 4 years and wanted to remain there, I loved the place, but because of the collapse of their oil industry it meant I got zero points for my Visa application, as they were trying to protect Canadian tradesmens jobs.I still think it was totally unfair, but if I stayed and got caught, I would been locked up, deported within days and also banned for 10 years. So I left. Understand brainiac?
@Dermot Mc Carthy: I was the same in Aus. Would have loved to have stayed but didn’t have enough points to qualify to stay. I’d also love to live in the States at some stage, but its literally a lottery there. If it happens, it happens, if not I will always try to get over to either country for a few weeks every few years. If someone is over there illegally, Irish, Mexican or any nationality they should be arrested and deported.
Same for me in UAE. No job? Sorry off you go. Fair enough. But apparently it’s racist, bigoted blah blah blah to even suggest having this system in Ireland…or Europe for that matter.
Going to get red thumbed for this but swap the word undocumented for the word illegal. They mean the same in this article. Undocumented just has a more positive connotation. Also Helen lovejoy impression at the end ‘won’t someone please think of the children’.
People aren’t illegal, their actions or activities are.
@Donal O’Brien: Illegal immigration is the migration of people across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. So illegal immigrant is an apt description.
Illegal alien is actually the correct term.
Great I’ve got sting stuck in my head now
Ah, Genesis. Google before type, forgot the golden rule
@Maurice Bourke: You thought you were going to get *red* thumbed for an anti-immigration comment on The Journal? Ha!
@matthew Anti illegal immigration you mean
The law of the land at some point has to be upheld in Ireland, illegal immigration needs to be resisted. Open border anarchists should not be allowed force the government to ignore common sense laws. Ever.
@John Burke: 1500!!!!!! Give me a break. You can double that number then triple it and double it again and you might be in the ball park. No wonder we have a housing “crisis”.
Why do we have a housing crisis?
if we lived at the density that people live in Manhattan, the entire global population could fit in New Zealand
John, I assume you believe that all undocumented Irish in the US, should be sent back to Ireland then?
@John Burke:
4,000 to be deported or refused entry to Ireland in 2016; highest number in 6 years
“If we fail to regularise undocumented children and young people, we’re in breach of our international human rights obligations.”
Can someone show me where we signed up to completely do way with immigration procedures and let anyone and everyone who enters the state gain residency? I must have missed that. It’s not a human right to live in Ireland.
Yet.
Round them up and deport them. Should be a handy enough job given Ms. McGinley knows who are probably where they are.
@Naberius: She’s aiding and abetting law breakers.
@Sean O’Connor:
She certainly is. It’s a wonder some Gardai haven’t dropped in to see her for a bit of a chat.
Is it Groundhog Day? This exact same article was published just over 2 weeks ago, so i’ll reiterate my point – Yes they are the same, they’re both illegal immigrants. Both have shown disrespect and disregard for the laws of the nations in which they are guests. Both should be deported.
There are thousands of immigrants around the world who go through a lot of hassle, paperwork and spend a lot of money to legalese their status – why should these cue jumpers and criminals be rewarded?
Also I doubt the illegals in Ireland are publicly demonstrating in DC, they’d be immediately detained followed up by deportation – How it should be!
If it wasn’t for the media and the government been infiltrated by bleeding heart liberals, this shambles wouldn’t even be entertained.
Lets us also not forget who funds the numerous pro mass immigration NGOs in this country – some of the worlds richest billionaires – George Soros, Chuck Feeney et al. The elitist quest to displace native Europeans aided and abetted by the media and governments continues.
If illegal aliens have the temerity to appear before the Oireachteas we should have Gardai and paddy wagons awaiting their arrival.
You can’t pay tax in Ireland if you’re illegal?
I’ve been driving illegally without a driving licence for the past 10 years. I could have gotten lessons and applied for the test but you know… Now, I’ve gotten so used to driving I won’t give it up and I demand that the state provide me with a driving licence even though I’ve passed no test and have broken the law for the last 10 years.
All these people were housed and all their needs catered for while our own Irish Families are sleeping in the backs of their cars or in one bedroom hotels .A homeless young of 30 years found dead in Stephens green yesterday a 31 years old in Limerick last week . We have to look after our own first and I will preach that everyday and the fact we have another useless government does not help matters .
Who cares if they are Irish, they are breaking the Law and should be sent back home.
The fact is the undocumented Irish in America share the hopes and values of a Western culture. The same cannot be said for the majority of migrants/refugees coming to Ireland now.
So what king tut. Do you think that makes it ok?
Nollaig, I don’t want to live in a country dominated by archaic rules about/for imaginary sky fairies. We’ve managed to loosen the catholic stranglehold the last thing I want are a load of Muslims forcing their sick religion down my throat. Yes, I think religion is pure boll ocks. Yes I don’t think we should be importing it. The should not be allowed into western countries unless they can prove they want to live with our secular values.
I get a serious sense of De ja vul off this article. Its almost as if The Journal have an agenda to push…
I love the hypocrisy of those who are anti-immigration here but then shedding tears for the plight of the Irish “undocumented” who’ve gone to live in the US illegally purely as a lifestyle choice. At least be consistent in your views on immigration.
@Jack:LOL I don’t shed any tears for illegal Irish in the USA,
The gardai should be notified. Employees of this quango should be interviewed about the “89%” that are working. Businesses should be raided and fined for employing illegal non tax paying workers. Arrests made and deportation orders issued. We won’t do any of this of course because the whole thing is a giant money making racket.
@Jack:
Can you show me where anyone said that illegals here should be deported but Irish illegals should have the right to stay? Or are you just making stuff up?
The hugh difference between the irish illegals in the US and the illegals here is ..I don’t see bombs dropping here. I don’t see any heads detached from their bodies..there isint a war going on. The Irish have a safe country to return to if they wish…….To compare the illegals here to those of us in the states w is pushing it…. there is no comparison …….I can only imagine the amount of thumbs down this comment recieved from the mass going christan hypocrites we are awash with here
You know where these people are from? The journalist ckearly doesn’t. Perhaps your assumptions are incorrect?
@lavbeer: Stop being ChrsitianPhobic … you racist !
You simply cannot argue with the headline. Illegal is illegal no matter who or where. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Anyone who has been an immigrant themselves would surely understand.
It was always going to get to this.
To lavbeer …I’m not asuming anything…..Nigeria at war 25 years…..afganastan…war 30. Years….Iraq war 20 years..Syria was 5 years …Sudan ..war 20 years ….eritra. .war 30year…. need I go on
Why all the hassle and protesting? Just stay under the radar like the vast majority of undocumented people do.
If you’re anti immigrants here, would it not be your duty to shop any Irish undocumented you know of to US authorities? Consistency?
When home is hell, it’s pretty hard to want to go back. I’m not saying all immigrants are coming from War torn places but seriously some of the comments on here are disgusting. it was a couple of hundred years ago we were scrambling for ships to avoid starvation and risking disease for a better life. when your home is bombed to holy hell by imperialists and fanatics, what would you do ?
Its a lot less than 200 years the imperialists were doing their thing
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