As a concerned resident and candidate for Dublin City Council, I believe it is essential to address the immigration emergency currently facing our city. Our immigration system is overwhelmed, and our resources are stretched to the limit. While Ireland has a proud tradition of welcoming people from around the world, we must ensure that our policies are sustainable and fair.
It’s completely understandable that people from less fortunate countries, struggling with significant economic, social, and political issues, would want to move to more developed democracies, such as Ireland. They hope to find social and legal protections and economic opportunities that are not available in their home countries.
Similarly, it’s logical for developed countries, such as Ireland, to allow migration to serve their own political, economic, and demographic interests. Ireland and other developed countries benefit from having migration policies that attract people who can contribute to their economy and society. The need for such migration policies in developed countries is clear and cannot be denied.
However, what is currently happening is that instead of following the legal processes set up for immigration, these would-be migrants exploit the asylum system to gain entry, bypassing the rules and regulations designed to manage migration fairly and effectively. This not only undermines the integrity of the immigration system but also puts additional strain on our resources and services.
Our priority should be to support our vulnerable Dubliners and genuine asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution. However, the current situation has created an unsustainable burden on our resources. Like Denmark, Ireland must opt out of the EU Migration Pact and regain control over our immigration policies.
Our government has consistently failed to enforce the Immigration Act 2004 or the Dublin III Regulations, which require returning asylum seekers to their first EU country of entry. This failure highlights the total breakdown of our immigration policy. Immediate solutions are necessary to prevent our nation from falling into chaos and experiencing a breakdown in social cohesion. The government is forcing mass immigration upon cities, towns, and villages across Ireland, contrary to the wishes of most Irish citizens. The state has failed to prosecute asylum seeker applicants actively and rigorously for those arriving without passports or identity documents who are clearly abusing the immigration system under the Immigration Act.
Immediate and Decisive Action
To address this immigration emergency, we must take immediate and decisive action:
- Halt New Migrants: Temporarily pause the acceptance of new migrants to manage the current crisis effectively, allowing the system to reset and resources to be reallocated efficiently.
- Enforce Immediate Deportations: Fast-track the deportation process for individuals with rejected asylum claims.
- Implement Mandatory Detention: Establish detention centres for all new asylum seekers until their claims are processed.
- Zero Tolerance for Illegal Entry: Enforce strict penalties and immediate deportation for those caught entering the country illegally.
- Restrict Legal Avenues :- Limit Appeals: Reduce the number of appeals and legal reviews available to asylum seekers. Only allow one appeal per case to expedite the resolution process. Revise Legal Aid: Limit the provision of legal aid to those with strong, verifiable claims to ensure that resources are used effectively.
- Opt-Out of the EU Migration Pact: Retain control over our immigration policies by opting out of the EU Migration Pact.
- Stricter Visa Measures : Implement rigorous visa screening and high-security procedures for all visa applicants from countries with high rates of economic migration. Visa Caps: Introduce caps on the number of visas issued annually, focusing on reducing the influx from countries with significant migration pressures.
- Enhanced Border Security : Enforce immigration laws at border controls and when presenting at IPAS centres. Enforce the law and send convicted foreign criminals to prisons outside of Ireland similar to the agreement between Denmark and Kosovo. Denmark will send foreigners convicted in Denmark to serve time in Kosovo. It will send a clear signal to foreign criminals that their future is not in Ireland, and therefore they should not serve time here either.
- Advocate for the Reform of the International Protection System: Renegotiate international agreements to gain more control over who is granted asylum and under what conditions.
- Regional Asylum Centres: Establish regional centres outside the EU where asylum seekers can have their claims processed before entering Ireland.
- Severe Penalties for Human Traffickers : Impose severe penalties, including long prison sentences and heavy fines, on individuals and organisations involved in human trafficking.
- Deterrence Campaigns: Launch public information campaigns in source countries to deter potential economic migrants by highlighting the stringent measures and low chances of success for fraudulent claims and no offers of accommodation and welfare payments.
By taking these steps, we can restore order to our immigration system, protect our local communities, and ensure that our policies are fair and sustainable.
Your support in addressing this immigration emergency is crucial. Together, we can create a future for Dublin that is both welcoming and resilient, ensuring that our city remains vibrant and inclusive for all its residents. Please give me your #1 Vote in the Local Elections for the Cabra-Glasnevin LEA on June 7th.
