Undocumented migrants in Ireland offered ‘once in a generation’ amnesty
Junior minister James Browne says the move will help vulnerable women working in prostitution
Women being exploited in the sex industry are among 17,000 undocumented migrants who will have the opportunity to regularise their legal status in Ireland under a “once in a generation” amnesty.
Junior minister with responsibility for law reform James Browne is introducing the widescale amnesty, which he said could also potentially affect any Afghan nationals already living here who are undocumented.
The scheme to regularise the status of undocumented migrants who have been living in Ireland for at least four years, or three years in the case of those with children, is being brought to Cabinet next month.
In November a portal will be opened for the up to 17,000 eligible undocumented migrants living in Ireland to apply for legal status . It will remain open for six months. The scheme will give migrants unrestricted access to the labour market, and allow them to apply for citizenship later.
The majority of undocumented migrants in Ireland are from the Philippines, Mongolia, China, Bangladesh, Brazil and Malawi. Data shows 75pc of them have been in Ireland for more than five years and 2,000 of this number are children — 93pc are working and 70pc are aged between 24 and 44.
“This is a once in a generation scheme to regularise the undocumented. We always ask the Americans to do it for the Irish. To have credibility, we need to be doing the same,” Mr Browne told the Sunday Independent .
“These migrants are people who are already here, and have been for several years, but at the moment they are working in the black economy. A lot are working in kitchens and in some healthcare settings.”
Some undocumented migrants arrived on visas permitting them to work for a certain amount of time, but they then remained in Ireland. Others never had permission to work here but found jobs in the black economy.
In relation to women who may be undocumented and working in prostitution, Mr Browne said the amnesty could “absolutely” help them to escape from criminal elements that have potentially forced them into the sex industry.
“There are people who are trapped and undocumented in this country. Women are particularly vulnerable out there on the black market. They are at risk and there’s no doubt they are being exploited by criminal elements because of their undocumented status,” he said.
Mr Browne added that there could be a small number of Afghan citizens living here as undocumented migrants.
“There could be some undocumented Afghanis living in the community who are eligible. Anyone who fits the criteria will be encouraged to apply. It is a win-win situation. It gives migrants more rights and full access to the labour market as well as protections. It is always better for our society for everyone living and working here to have the same status and rights. It will also ensure employers have obligations to provide protections.”
The refugees due to arrive in Ireland after fleeing Afghanistan last week will not be eligible for the scheme, as they will enter the country as asylum seekers. This is an entirely different process, which sees asylum seekers aspire to refugee status, in a process that takes a number of years.
It is the intention of officials to keep the scheme as straightforward and simple for applicants as possible, Mr Browne said. The State did not want a situation where undocumented migrants had to access complex legal advice in order to find out if they were eligible for the scheme, he added.
Mr Browne has worked closely with NGOs in developing the scheme, including the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland.
It is expected undocumented migrants subject to deportation orders due to any criminal offences will not be eligible for the scheme.
“It will provide an opportunity for those who meet its criteria to remain and reside in the State and to become part of mainstream Irish society rather than living on its margins,” Mr Browne said.
“The scheme will be finalised by my department in the first week in September. It will then be brought to Cabinet by the end of September.
"I expect the scheme will then open in November.”
Source:- independent.ie
independent.ie