Surge in Refugees from Jordan to Ireland
DUBLIN: Ireland has seen a dramatic increase in the number of refugees arriving from Jordan. According to the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), the number of Jordanian refugees in Ireland has surged by more than 1,800 percent, reaching 1,021 over the past 12 months.
In July 2023, there were only 53 Jordanian refugees in Ireland. However, recent statistics show a sharp rise, with 134 people from Jordan seeking international protection in the week ending July 14 alone. This makes Jordan the top country of origin for refugees arriving in Ireland, followed by Palestine with 24 refugees.
Although Jordan currently faces no significant internal conflicts, a substantial number of Palestinians, who initially found refuge in Jordan, are now seeking asylum in Ireland. This influx has elevated Jordan to the top ten countries from where people seek protection in Ireland, a significant jump from its 40th position last year.
Fianna Fáil’s Support for Palestinian Refugees
Fianna Fáil, the ruling party in Ireland, is known for its support of Palestinian refugees. Deputy Prime Minister Michael Martin, a prominent advocate for Palestinian rights, visited Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan in April. Since his visit, the number of Palestinian refugees arriving in Ireland from Jordan has increased significantly.
When assessing asylum claims from Jordan, the Office for International Protection (IPO) first needs to determine if the applicant has acquired Jordanian citizenship. Although this requires careful analysis, there is evidence that such checks may not have been thoroughly conducted. Applicants submitting passports should be scrutinised to see if they hold ‘Palestinian travel passports’ or ‘temporary passports’ rather than full Jordanian national passports. Without such verification, applicants registered as Jordanian may not have their true nationality determined until their refugee claims are fully processed.
Delays and Long Waiting Periods
According to a June report by the Department of Justice, the average wait time for the first interview for asylum applicants in the regular international protection procedure is 55.5 weeks. This indicates that Jordanian and Palestinian applicants seeking protection this year will likely wait over a year for their initial interviews. Prolonged processing times could enable these refugees to remain in Ireland for extended periods.
Government Response and Challenges
When asked about the increase in asylum seekers from Jordan, the Department of Justice attributed it to shifting migration patterns. This year alone, 6,295 Nigerians have also sought asylum in Ireland. While the official number of registered refugees stands at 31,220, the actual number is believed to be significantly higher.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has emphasised the importance of processing international protection applications swiftly to allow those in need to rebuild their lives in Ireland. She also noted that those who do not qualify for protection would be returned to their countries of origin. However, the number of refugees deported from Ireland remains low.
Far-right groups in Ireland are increasingly vocal against the refugee influx, arguing that it is part of a broader agenda of political Islam aiming to achieve European domination through migration, a historical ambition they claim is now being realised through the refugee movement.
Irish Samachar English News
{OR} Kindly click to follow the Irish Samachar News channel on WhatsApp
Comments are closed.