When a refugee is really an illegal immigrant

YOUR editorial headlined ‘Treatment of refugees is appalling’ (Irish Examiner, March 22) was inaccurate as none of the those concerned was found, according to UN standards, to be a genuine refugee.

Yet your misleading use of the term ‘refugee’ to describe those 35 people appears a number of times in the editorial.

A more apt description would have been “unsuccessful asylum applicants” or even “illegal immigrants”.

All had arrived here via another EU country to claim political asylum. Despite this, their applications were considered in accordance with best UN practice, but were adjudged to be unsubstantiated, even allowing for a series of appeals. As a result of our procedures, which all signatories of the Geneva conventions must adhere to, many were able to live here for some years at great expense to the taxpayer.

Compulsory deportations are used only as a last resort by most EU countries, which are required to notify unsuccessful applicants and request them voluntarily to leave the state. It is only when such people refuse to co-operate that governments resort to the final option of forced repatriation.

Your misuse of the term ‘refugee’ for ‘illegal immigrant’ serves only to equate political asylum with unlimited or illegal immigration.

Pat Flanagan

Castlepark Ave

Mallow

Co Cork