Immigrant Solidarity

a broad based alliance of activists in Cork opposed to the deportation of asylum-seekers.
IS was formed in January of 1998.

Immigrant Solidarity stands for - An Amnesty For All Asylum Seekers - An End To Restrictive Legislation On Immigration - For A Multi-cultural Ireland - An End To Fortress Europe - Opposition To All Forms of Racism - Opposition To Immigration Controls - The Right To Work For All Immigrants

Introducing: Immigrant Solidarity

Press cuttings about Racism and Ireland

Some Home Truths

Everyone knows that Irish people have availed of equal rights and citizenship in a host of countries in the last 150 years - just look at the numbers of Irish or Irish descendants there are in England or Australia, to name just two examples. Surely, it isn't asking too much that we should extend the same hospitality to those who are now coming here?
Some politicians and the media have sensationalised the arrival of asylum seekers. Yet, at the last count, the numbers were just 4000. This doesn't represent 'a flood', just a tiny proportion of the huge number of refugees that exist in the EU at the moment. According to the UN there are over 30 million refugees worldwide.
Asylum seekers who come to Ireland are not allowed to work or study until their cases have been processed by the Government. This can take more than 3 years. In the meantime asylum seekers must claim social welfare (or starve). Moreover, they can only claim social welfare at the lowest possible payment (Supplement-ary Welfare Allowance). Asylum seekers should have right to work.
The Goverment is prepared to sell 'Irish' citizenship to the rich and wealthy of the world - as some of the recent Tribunals have shown. But asylum seekers and refugees are rarely rich or powerful. They are most often the poor and vulnerable. For this reason we must help them. Who else will?

What You Can Do

The Government intends to deport asylum seekers in the very near future. It is already turning back people at Irish airports, train stations and ports on completely racist grounds - in many cases only on the basis of skin colour! It is doing this in our name.

The imminent deportations must be stopped. Action by you could mean saving someone's life. Some immediate steps can be taken:

1. Register your concern immediately with the Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 72-76 St Stephen's Green Dublin 2. Ph: 01-6028202 Fax 01-6615461 Email: [email protected]

2. Express your opposition to your TD or public representative. Insist that s/he raises the matter of the deportations in the Dáil. Point out the urgency of the situation.

3. Raise the issue in your union and at work. If you are a student, get your Student's Union to take a stand. Support the right of airport and seaport workers to refuse to participate in any attempted deportations.

4. Get involved with Immigrant Solidarity's anti-racist events. Join us. Solidarity is strength.

Newsletter and Analysis

Press Releases

Reports and suggestions

Send a Protest email to the Department of Justice
Report on the April 25 demonstrations against racism and deportations
Immigrant Solidarity call for the April 25th demonstrations and events that took place in Cork
Unity - Irish Anti-Racism email list