An Irish national named Michael O’Keeffe on X (formerly Twitter), has voiced concerns about the increasing number of Nigerian immigrants moving to Ireland, suggesting it might impact the native Irish population.
O’Keeffe, who goes by the handle @Mick_O_Keeffe on X, shared a video featuring a Nigerian man who recently moved to Ireland with his wife and seven children under asylum status.
At the time of reporting, Punch Metro has not been able to verify O’Keeffe’s claim regarding the immigration status of the Nigerian family, nor has the Irish government declared their arrival in the country as illegal.
Local media, Irish Times, on July 12, 2024, reported that the country witnessed a 93.9 per cent increase in the number of people seeking asylum in the first two quarters of 2024. “By the end of June, there were 10,604 applicants for international protection (IP) in comparison with 5,470 by the end of June 2023,” the Irish online media reported.
“Figures from the Department of Justice show an additional 623 asylum seekers entered the State this month until July 9th. The figure to that date is 11,227,” the report added.
Irish Times said that 31,473 people are currently seeking international protection in Ireland, adding that the rise in the number of applications received in 2024 was because of the number of Nigerians seeking asylum.
“Last year 764 Nigerians tried to claim asylum in the first six months; this year the figure is 2,999. Nigeria accounts for almost 30 per cent of all asylum seekers to the State this year, by far the greatest number from a single country,” it said.
Nigerian man comes to Ireland and applies for asylum, then he gets approved for family reunification and brings his wife and 7 children to Ireland.
We are being overrun.
This is simply not sustainable. pic.twitter.com/vNB6splQUP
— MichaeloKeeffe (@Mick_O_Keeffe) July 18, 2024
Punch Metro reports that seeking asylum or international protection in Ireland is not illegal and applicants “will be granted refugee status in Ireland if they can prove that there are ‘well-founded’ reasons for fleeing your home country fearing persecution for your ethnicity, religion, nationality, affiliation to a particular social group, political opinion, amongst others.
According to Irish immigration specialists, Immigration Advice Services, applicants who do not qualify for refugee status can alternatively be granted subsidiary protection status in the country. The Irish government can also grant asylum protection to persons coming from a ‘safe’ country. Irish Times reported that Nigeria was excluded from the recently released revised list of safe countries of origin.
While the yet-to-be-identified Nigerians haven’t been declared as a threat to the Irish community, O’Keeffe’s argument suggests that the influx of Nigerians is threatening the Irish, adding that the asylum accommodation is not sustainable.
“Nigerian man comes to Ireland and applies for asylum, then he gets approved for family reunification and brings his wife and 7 children to Ireland. We are being overrun. This is simply not sustainable.
“There are currently 6,295 Nigerians claiming asylum in Ireland. Last month 173 requests for family reunification were submitted,” O’Keeffe captioned the now viral TikTok video of one of the family members of the Nigerians which he shared on his X account with over 85 thousand followers.
His comments have generated thousands of mixed reactions as some argue in favour and against the Nigerians and the concept of asylum-seeking in economically stable countries like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, amongst others.
@henriquecentiei believes that “Everyone is just looking for a better life. Just like the Irish did mass migration to the states and Canada.” just as he was backed up by another X user who believes that the Nigerian will boost the Irish economy.
“I understand your pain. These guys will work and add to your economy. At least, they speak good English and can integrate into your system. They are Christians too,” @Bigstan1477added.
However, a highly sceptical user @seanahollywood, called for a DNA test, having suggested that not all seven kids belong to the Nigerian immigrant. According to him, the kids may be used as a source of income back in Nigeria.
“I am highly sceptical that they are all his kids. This is a classic tactic. You bring in the kids of close relatives, say they are yours and leach off the system while also getting paid by the relatives back in Nigeria. A paternity/maternity test should be done.,” the user opined.
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@AuBear21 argued that “There was a time not too long ago when the British were showing up uninvited in other countries. They generally behaved a lot worse than the sweet family in the video.”
Meanwhile, @TCollectivess was of the opinion that the public outcry was needless. he said, “Chill out mate, we’re all trying to survive Not everyone is out to get you… “We are being overrun” No one is even thinking about you, cos we got the world to save from the dark. Get a life champ.”
“The Irish themselves escaped and sought refuge in the US, and Canada in 1714 and the 1750s. This is why many US leaders including current and former Presidents can trace their route to Ireland. Japa, ‘escapism’, has always been with us,” @Inno4Chi while also flaying the Nigerians for uploading the video on social media. “Whilst some of us are against Nigerians publishing content of this nature, it is a phenomenon that may be inevitable in this day and age of Social Media,” he added.
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