Every society is judged on how it treats its most vulnerable. In the current economic climate, when everyone is fighting for survival, some risk being completely forgotten.
Migrants are one of those groups that seem all too easily discarded. Sometimes they are valued for their contributions; at other times they’re seen as leeches. When things go bad economically, migrants are usually the first to be blamed.
This kind of reaction is not limited to one country. Just look across the pond in the United States, or to continental Europe. No matter where you are, negative headlines about immigrants in the media are par for the course.
At the recent Migrants’ Forum monthly meeting held by Cultur, a Meath-based group that fights for migrants’ rights and better integration, there was an eerie air of resignation. Most migrants I met understood that times were tough, yet they couldn’t understand why they were being treated indifferently.
On the issues that were discussed, habitual residence conditions clearly dominated. Regulations in this area restrict migrants from accessing many public services, whether directly or indirectly. And there seems to be no coherent position on how the law is applied.
For instance, many non-Irish national children with good Leaving Cert results have found themselves locked out of third level education, even after they’ve lived in the State for some time.
The system has led some families to live in poverty, with charities like St Vincent de Paul as their only refuge.
Some of these migrants came here at the blessing of the Government – Ireland needed all the labour it could get with the boom of the Celtic Tiger, after all. But with the collapse of the construction industry, they were left without jobs and their work permits eventually expired.
Some of them had uprooted their families and couldn’t simply return back to their countries of origin. They eventually went underground to evade the authorities, where they met exploitation through underpayment and long hours. Women are suffering the most as they face blackmail even from their own husbands and partners on a daily basis. In some extreme cases, they are being subjected to inhuman treatment and forced prostitution by criminal gangs.
Above all, what migrants want is to be given the chance to contribute to society. They want to go back to school to re-skill or change careers in order to compete in today’s tough job market. Some told me they left their countries of birth a long time ago that it is now impossible to go back due to various reasons – now, Ireland is the only place for them.
Indeed, most of the migrants that attended that forum spoke of their admiration for their adoptive country. Some chose to move to here, while others were brought in by circumstances beyond their control. But none regret making Ireland their home.
They understand how hard the recession has hit, but they would like to play their part in fixing the economy. The onus is now upon this country’s political leaders to address the problem. Migrants contributed a lot during the Celtic Tiger; they deserve to be appreciated and considered during this difficult time.
Evans Shirihuru is a contributor to Metro Éireann
