Gerry Carroll MLA and Brid Smith TD have issued a joint statement to condemn both the British and Irish government’s recent rhetoric on refugees and asylum seekers.
In a statement they said,
‘The latest contrived controversy between the British and Irish governments over asylum seekers implies that human beings are a problem.
‘Vulnerable people who have fled persecution are to be treated as cargo that no one wants under these plans. In reality, they are human beings who are capable of making a real contribution to our society.
The British Tories have a direct interest in whipping up racism. They have lost huge electoral support and think the only way they can recover is by scapegoating refugees. Their infamous Rwanda Bill is an attempt to do just that.
They got the idea from Israel, who using the pretext of ‘voluntary repatriation’ deported thousands of people to Rwanda between 2014 and 2017. The vast majority fled Rwanda shortly after arriving.
Rwanda is a highly repressive country, particularly for LGBT people. That, ironically, is why Britain granted asylum to four Rwanda in 2021.
The Tories care little about human rights – they want to punish asylum seekers by threatening them with Rwanda. It is doubtful that those who have embarked on a dangerous journey will be deterred by this cruel move.
‘The Irish government has now joined the Tory game by rushing through legislation to name Britain as a ‘safe country’. Their aim is to send asylum seekers to Britain – a promise that has only added grist to the Tory mill giving them ample election material.
The reality, however, is that Britain is no longer a ‘safe country’ precisely because it is willing to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Instead of operating a costly and brutal deportation scheme- the government’s North and South would be far better off housing those who are unfortunate enough to have to live on the streets.
It is ironic that a government that claimed to stand for an open border between the North and South of Ireland is now pushing for more immigration controls on that artificial border.
As a party who are firmly opposed to any “hard border” we reject the idea of beefing up the state security apparatus to deport people in greater numbers.
We also reject the type of racial profiling that which has allowed police to enter buses and pick out people of colour.
We condemn the growing racist rhetoric that is leading to violent attacks on refugees.
We urge people to resist any attempts at deportation and to support their friends ‘neighbours who are being threatened with this.
People Before Profit support the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees and support all efforts to resist deportation or tougher migration laws.
Who lives here belongs here.