Last Friday a group of 18 male asylum seekers in Ennis  received a fax from the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) telling them them that they had a week to pack up their belongings and move to places they didn’t know. It’s not deportation (something which happens in this state far more than we know about  because nobody’s watching), no staff member of the RIA appeared to break the news, they hid behind a fax machine instead.

After up to 5 years of waiting for the state to deal with their asylum applications they found out that these still were not dealt with.  But the state is going to move them from the community they had come to know and lose the friendships and support systems they relied on to cope with the experience of seeking asylum.

They were told that they would get a bus ticket to Killarney, Tralee or Sligo and an address to report to and would be moving in about a week. There was no consultation with the men and no preparation on the emotional and psychological damage that they may be experiencing.  They also can not speak out because they are afraid that their asylum applications could be affected.

The state hopes that nobody is watching or listening  as they move these men around.  Sure nobody cares about asylum, refugee status, the process of law and procedures of hearing claims  or indeed human rights in the era of the recession.  There may be fewer people seeking asylum but the state still lags behind in the organisation of the asylum system and the fair and prompt hearing of applicaitons.

Ennis however is a town that has a lot of experience with integration and providing accommodation and support to asylum seekers. Many of the men who received their fax telling them they are to move have been involved in community organisations and have volunteered in order to keep themselves occupied and to integrate with the community they live in.  Active Citizenship I believe the government call it.

Local people know these men, work with them and are horrified at the manner that their neighbours are being treated.  In fact the local organisations working on integration and immigration issues worked on a plan on Integrated Strategy for the Co ordination of services to the Immigrant Communities in Clare which was  move launched by the Minister for State with responsibility for integration last April.

The junior minister and indeed his successor and their agencies didn’t tell anyone that this was being planned. Any other type of  institution that is being closed would have a period of preparation for closure where supports could be provided to those being moved. Referrals to towns and organisations could be made in order that they would not be completely isolated.

And Mohammad Ali arrives next month to be awarded the freedom of Ennis.  Cead Mile Failte Ali.

* Blog post title comes from a song sung by Christy Moore about Travellers and state persecution and harassment.