Time for a zero refugee policy? - *Read OP for mod warnings and threadbans - updated 11/5/24*

But there's no evidence that migrant workers or refugees are any more likely to commit crimes than people already living here. This focus on criminality of all things seems rather odd - the overwhelming majority of people in any society (whether born there or new arrivals) don't commit serious crimes or end up in prison.

Irish people have committed murders abroad. Should we try and stop all Irish people from leaving the country because of the potential risk they pose to others?

But we do check. Every single person who passes through Garda Immigration at the airports is being checked for the very reasons you indicate....that's why their passport is scanned to see what comes up on the database.

And given a deportation order which is basically please leave but we aren't going to check if you do, and sure if you fight it long enough you can have a free house.

I totally get the 'pressure on services, infrastructure and accommodation' arguments re. immigration....it has some validity at least. But the 'immigrants / refugees are potential criminals' one seems totally disingenuous....there are only 4500 people in Irish prisons and probably less than 1k of those are non nationals (out of a non national population of at least 700k).

If there are 12% non-nationals in the country, and they're making up 22% of the prison population, this isn't a statistic I'd be using to defend them with. Granted statistics not specific to AS, but I'd wager that the proportion only worsens.

The ESRI released it's Annual Report on Migration and Asylum on Tuesday. The report is here if anyone wants to download the pdf.

Highlights include:

A 415% increase in Asylum applications here since 2021, and also 186% increase from 2019.

The top countries of origin for asylum are Georgia with 20%, Algeria 13%, Somalia 125, Nigeria 8%, Zimbabwe 7% and Afghanistan 6%

A 146% increase in first residence permits compared to 2021.

Education accounts for 22% of all valid, current residence permits while employment accounts for only 27%. If only 27% of residence permits are accounted for by employment and are paying employment tax, how does that square with the argument that these massive immigration levels are an economic benefit to us? Don't forget certain parties love to parrot "they're here to pay your pensions" line.

You'd think that the immigration NGOs would be over the moon at these figures, but no they're heavily criticising efforts of the International Protection Office to streamline the process of applying, specifically for those who have travelled here from safe countries of origin and other countries where they wouldn't have a strong case for their application.

You might even say that said NGOs seem to be very invested in blocking any reforms to what is a very cumbersome applications and appeal process and an army of legal advocates only too willing to help, using taxpayers money to provide such legal aid of course. Nothing is for free, unless we're paying of course.

I know that 'next flight back' is a popular mantra amongst posters here, but how do you see it working in reality?

Because someone without a passport literally can't get on a plane or be forcibly put on a plane - the airline ground staff won't allow it, the pilot/crew almost certainly won't be willing to fly with John Does on board, and the ATC/immigration at the destination airport certainly won't greenlight that flight to take off with an incomplete passenger manifest.

So by definition it has to be a much slower process than 'next flight back', which unfortunately leaves us holding the parcel.

"Please stop paying attention to this topic, we are struggling to defend it " ok

totally agree and the number of people who suggest its simply a matter of not letting passengers into the country or returning on the next plane is quite common.I would imagine there is scant attention paid in Italian airports for example if passports are legit as there is probably a perception there that they have to do more than their fair share of heavy lifting with regard to taking in immigrants.For me we will end up with an EU clearing centre ,maybe in somewhere like Morroco or Tunisia where all requests will be assessed and successful applicants will be accepted into each European member based on population ratios etc.Some countries may not join such an arrangement but they would then become a focus for any illegal immigrants and that would act as incentive to sign up.

I don't hate AS making bogus claims. They are people trying to take advantage a weak system here.

I point the finger at our politicians, not at the bogus AS.

(I do put some of the blame on the AS)

I am trying to get on with my life, but the 52% marginal income tax rate that I face on my below-average household income to pay for the AS isn't helping.

16 % + of the prison population is foreign criminals

There is still a high number who arrive with no passports at airports . How do you suppose they are checked??

Then there are those who claim asylum with no documents at the reception center

https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2023/0216/1357159-over-60-of-asylum-applicants-at-dublin-airport-had-no-id/&ved=2ahUKEwjn-s7Cl-2CAxWGy6ACHXoWBccQFnoECCwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2377LCypO-CK_dShFAc05t

You proposed that non-nationals aren't any more likely to commit a crime, I showed you non-nationals are twice as likely to be in jail compared to nationals. Deflect the numbers whatever way you wish, it's clear as day for the rest here.