Ireland calling: Stop Mass Deportations

Ireland calling: Stop Mass Deportations

Deportations of Parents of Irish Citizens Begin

On 17 July 2003 the Minister for Justice announced that a backlog of 11,000 claims for residency for non-EU immigrant parents solely on the basis that they have become parents of Irish citizen children have been nullified. The first 400 notices of effective deportation have been issued by the Department.

The notices inform people that the Minister proposes to deport them, and tell them that they have 15 working days to make written representations for temporary leave to remain on humanitarian grounds, which may include parentage of Irish citizen, the length of time they have resided in Ireland and their family and domestic circumstances. Alternatively those issued with the notices can agree to voluntary return option.

However, while the Irish state is prepared to fund the cost of deportation, the immigrants are not entitled to State-funded legal advice in preparing their submissions. According to the press, lawyers are charging between 2,000 and 4,000 euro for assistance with their humanitarian leave applications.

According to the Constitution all persons born in the island of Ireland are Irish citizens. Until the Supreme Court ruling of January 2003, some 10,000 migrant parents have been granted leave to remain on the ground of having parented Irish citizens. The court decision reversed this situation and as of 19 February 2003 the Minister ceased accepting new applications for leave to remain on the grounds of the birth of an Irish citizen.

While Irish citizens cannot be legally deported, they will be practically obliged to leave the country with their parents as the Minister made clear he will not be 'blackmailed' by parents threatening to leave their children behind, and, if necessary, that the courts will compel them to take their citizen children with them.

Immigrant parents are bewildered, confused, and need our support. Many are afraid to go back, many have integrated into Irish society and wish to remain and make a contribution. Deporting parents of Irish citizens infringes the rights of Irish citizens to the care and company of their parents in the state of their citizenship and the integrity of the family, as enshrined in the Constitution.

What You Can Do:
A campaign to 'Stop the Mass Deportations' has been set up, they are asking for national and international help and ask you to write/fax/email the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern . You can use the model letter attached copy/amend/write your own.

Fax: + 353 1 678 9791

Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie

Or by writing direct:

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings
Merrion Street
Dublin 2.

Please notify Ronit Lentin of any thing sent:
rlentin@tcd.ie

Enquiries further information:
Dr Ronit Lentin
Course coordinator,
MPhil in Ethnic and Racial Studies,
Department of Sociology, University of Dublin,
Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: + 353 1 6082766. Fax: 353 1 6771300.
rlentin@tcd.ie
http://www.tcd.ie/Sociology/mphil/mphil.htm