Latest mass deportation hauls off 7-month pregnant woman on crutches

dublin | racism & migration related issues | news report Tuesday June 30, 2009 18:20 by Residents Against Racism rar.info at yahoo dot ie

'Horrendous' picture emerging says group

A seven month pregnant woman, on crutches from a broken leg, is among the many Nigerian asylum seekers so far rounded up from all over Ireland and taken to Dublin airport in a major deportation operation which commenced this morning.

Residents Against Racism spokesperson Rosanna Flynn describes the emerging picture as 'horrendous'. "This is the third mass deportation in two months and it just gets worse and worse," she says.

In addition to Dublin, the group has collated reports of people being taken from Clonakilty, Cork, Athlone, Galway and the former Butlin's holday camp at Mosney, now Ireland's largest centre for asylum seekers, where Gardai were in attendance in the early hours of the morning.

Details have emerged of at least three people being taken for deportation who had recently reported to immigration authorities and been given appointments to attend again next month. One reported as recently as yesterday and was told to come back in late July. Such removals are contrary to all past practice by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

The group also expressed concern about the blatantly racist tactics driving today's round-up operation. "We've seen immigration guards snooping round cars in the vincinity of the GNIB, checking for Black faces and quizzing people," says Flynn. "It's pure racial profiling."

Residents Against Racism staged a protest outside the Garda National Immigration Bureau on Burgh Quay to oppose the deportation.