Refugees and asylum seekers
The terms “refugee” and “asylum seeker” are used interchangeably, but they are separate legal categories.
Firstly, refugees are those who have completed the asylum process successfully, having been able to meet criteria laid down in Section 2 of the 1996 Refugee Act. They enjoy similar rights to Irish people and are fully entitled to remain here. The term “illegal refugee” is an oxymoron. There is no such thing. In no way can the very fact of being a refugee be termed illegal. Moreover, as all refugees have by definition successfully completed the asylum process, none could be detained by the gardaĂ.
Asylum seekers are those people who are still in the process of attempting to gain refugee status, as laid down in the aforementioned 1996 Refugee Act. Failure to receive refugee status is not illegal. Thus, the term illegal asylum seeker is legally inaccurate and misleading, as by definition an asylum seeker is taking part in a proper legal process.
The people involved in Tuesday’s raid were merely failed asylum seekers rather than illegal ones. Many will view this letter as overly pedantic, however, I believe I am making an essential point. Over and over again, not just the Examiner, but all Irish media outlets use lazy journalism when reporting on refugees and asylum seekers. I work within disadvantaged areas where there are significant populations of people from new communities living. It is imperative that our national media report accurately on such issues if there is to be any hope that people interpret what is happening in an objective and fair manner.
Michael McCarthy,
Bregia Rd,
Cabra,
Dublin 7
