These are definitely not the best of times for asylum seekers. They are practically being hounded from most countries in Europe and the Americas. The case of those in the UK is probably the worst. The British government has succeeded in passing the “Illegal Immigration Bill” into law, and Rwanda is waiting for the very first set of asylum seekers since the law stipulates they should be flown there.
Asylum seekers are trying to flee the UK to other countries instead of being flown to Rwanda. One of their options is Ireland. But even there, they may not have a respite. The Irish government is threatening to return them to their countries of origin under a fast-track processing system for international protection applicants it introduced.
According to the Sunday Independent, asylum seekers face the threat of deportation orders within three months unless they can prove they are entitled to international protection. The fast-tracked asylum process is being extended from just applying to arrivals from countries deemed safe to include those designated unsafe but with the highest number of applicants.
A senior government source said, “The extension of accelerated processing to whatever country has the highest number of applicants will mean that many of those coming from the UK will receive an interview date when they arrive and a first decision within 90 days.”
Justice Minister Helen Mcentree will this week seek cabinet approval to draft legislation allowing her to return asylum seekers to the UK after the High Court ruled the UK an unsafe country. While the State is appealing the court judgement, Attorney General Rosa Fanning is also drafting a “Legislative fix” to ensure deportation resumes as soon as possible.
But migrants arriving in Ireland without status in the UK face being returned to their home countries if they can not prove they are deserving of international protection.
