Immigrants silent on abuse for fear of deportation

Immigrants living here are not reporting incidents of domestic violence out of fear that it will impact on their ability to stay in the country, the Immigrant Council of Ireland has said.

ICI wants new immigration legislation to include provisions which specifically refer to domestic violence situations. It has also highlighted shortfalls in the provision of emergency accommodation and welfare support to victims.

In a submission to the Oireachtas Justice Committee, ICI and eight other groups which make up the Domestic Violence Coalition said it is seeking action in four areas:

- Formal recognition of domestic violence in immigration law.

- Reform of administrative practices.

- The provision of safe emergency accommodation, as well as welfare benefits.

- The Government to sign and ratify the Council Of Europe Convention on Combating and Preventing Violence against Women and Domestic Violence as a matter of urgency.

ICI’s information and referral service manager Brian Killoran said: “It is clear, while a positive step was taken by the Irish immigration authorities to publish information in 2012 that outlines their approach to situations of this nature, the problem persists that there are people in this country who feel trapped in violent relationships because of fears their status in Ireland is dependent on their spouse.”

He said ICI welcomed the willingness of the Oireachtas Committee to examine the issue and said it was asking members to ensure that the committee’s consideration was conducted as soon as possible in order to offer hope to victims.

ICI gave the example of Liwei, a Chinese national, who arrived in Ireland in 2011 having lived with her Irish husband in Hong Kong for 10 years.

“Prior to their return to Ireland, her husband had become increasingly violent towards her and was controlling her finances and who she interacted with,” ICI said. “Liwei thought moving back to Ireland would help their relationship as being near his family may force him to change his behaviour. When they arrived in Ireland, the opposite happened and her husband’s behaviour towards her deteriorated further.

“Liwei sought the protection of a refuge in 2012 and took out a protection order and barring order against her husband. As her husband had controlled her access to finances and her interaction with immigration authorities, she had no finances available to her and her immigration status in Ireland had expired.

“Liwei spent three months attempting to remedy her situation, on the one hand corresponding with the immigration authorities regarding her legal status in Ireland, and on the other attempting, to no avail, to receive the minimum financial assistance available to contribute to her stay in the women’s refuge. Only with the intervention of the ICI did her community welfare officer agree to pay Liwei emergency payments while her immigration difficulties were being remedied.”