Migrant rights group calls for immigration reform

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) has called for reform of the Irish immigration system in a statement published ahead of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants.

States attending the summit are expected to make commitments related to labour migration, integration and anti-racism, as well as responses to refugees.

Edel McGinley, director of the MRCI, said: “As co-chair of the preparatory process which produced the draft outcome documents to be ratified today, Ireland must take the lead in implementing these commitments at home.”

Ms McGinley added: “While some progress has been made in recent years, much of our current immigration system is not fit for purpose.

“Our work permit system ties people to one employer. Our international student system makes it almost impossible for students to become workers. Our immigration system lacks transparency, flexibility and coherence. It doesn’t see people as people.

“There are some 26,000 undocumented people in Ireland today, and the system is largely responsible for that.

“In many ways, Ireland’s immigration system actively hinders integration. When people are trapped in exploitative jobs, when their immigration status is precarious, when their rights are curtailed, it’s very difficult for them to become part of the community.

“Clearer paths to residency and citizenship, seeing migrants as people with full lives rather than just as workers or students – these simple changes will make all the difference to Ireland in this new period of inward migration.”

She concluded: “To avoid the mistakes of the recent past, we need legal channels of migration for workers, for refugees and for families. Ireland could become a world leader in immigration policies and procedures, to the benefit of all.”