Majority: Let illegal migrants stay here and work

A sizeable majority of Irish people are supportive of undocumented immigrants being allowed to live and work in Ireland.

Almost 70% of those surveyed in a Red C poll believe that providing a regularisation option for immigrants here would strengthen Irish Government efforts to lobby for the undocumented Irish in the US.

The poll, conducted on behalf of the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland (MRCI), showed that:

• 69% of people agree that undocumented immigrants should be granted the right to earn an opportunity to live and work here while 8% “disagreed strongly”;
• Support increased to 79% when respondents were asked about undocumented children — 56% “strongly agreed” and 23% “agreed slightly”, while 11% disagreed;
• 84% of those polled believed in having similar rights granted to undocumented Irish emigrants to the US, with only 3% strongly disagreeing;
• 68% said granting migrants certain rights here would strengthen the Government’s negotiating stance on behalf of the undocumented Irish in the US.

The MRCI had previously revealed 87% of undocumented immigrants work while four in five have lived here for over five years.

The group also estimates that there are between 20,000 and 26,000 undocumented people in Ireland, with many of these being children.

According to the MRCI, the top five nationalities of undocumented immigrants living in Ireland are Filipino, Chinese, Mauritian, Brazilian, and Pakistani.

A previous, separate, poll in which 540 immigrants had been surveyed showed 86.5% had entered the country legally but subsequently became undocumented.

MRCI spokeswoman Helen Lowry said: “A comprehensive regularisation proposal has been sent to the Department of Justice and the Irish people have given it their stamp of approval, confirming their support for undocumented migrants.

“Furthermore, most people recognise that giving undocumented people in Ireland a chance would strengthen the Irish Government’s representations on behalf of the undocumented Irish in the US.”

The MRCI said it has made the poll findings available to the Oireachtas justice committee in advance of its last meeting, today, before the summer recess.

Jayson Montenegro, an undocumented migrant from the Philippines, and a leader of the MRCI’s Justice for the Undocumented campaign, has lived in Ireland for 11 years and worked as a carer and in construction.

“This is where I live and work,” he said.

“I have friends here. Also, I am still supporting my children to finish their education. I am in the same situation as the thousands of undocumented Irish in the United States. My story is their story.”

In a submission to the Oireachtas justice committee earlier this year, Mr Montenegro called for a system to be implemented in Ireland that is “transparent, straightforward, and fair”.

“We are asking for a chance to be recognised and contribute more formally to Irish society,” he said.

“Just like the undocumented Irish in the US, all we want is a fair chance to come forward and get back into the system.

“I am deeply grateful that the Irish people feel we should be given that opportunity.”

Ms Lowry added: “The public has given the Government a mandate to act now and introduce a regularisation. The time is now.”