Today, protesters gathered at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to protest the denial of long-stay study visas to incoming students of Irish universities from Gaza, the deportation order for Dublin activist Sami Kupiszewski, and the lack of investigation into Irish-Israeli dual-citizens who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Last week, there was another protest at the department over visa refusals. However, last week’s protest saw a more significant turnout due to the presence of students’ unions, groups, and political parties. Today, no such representatives attended.
The same day last week, the Department of Justice confirmed to the University Times that it had refused 46 more visas to Palestinian nationals, totalling 97 with only 36 approvals. Yesterday, in an op-ed in the Irish Times, Trinity’s outgoing Vice-President for Global Engagement, Emma Stokes, confirmed that of the nine incoming Trinity students from Gaza, three had their visas approved, four were refused, and two are awaiting their decision.
Today also saw Garda presence, with approximately one officer for every four protesters. Throughout the demonstration, Garda spoke with protesters attempting to get them to move from the steps and move flags. One protester claimed to the University Times that Garda inquired about his immigration status and asked him to enter the building for a meeting. The protester also said the Irish government had issued him an adverse immigration decision based on his politics.
Róisín McAleer of Social Rights Ireland spoke at the demonstration. She said of O’Callaghan: “The man once given the job of defending the name of Bertie Ahern cleaning up the mess of a corrupt regime … he is now the Minister for Injustice. He speaks with a soft measured cadence and the Irish people like that, they like gentleness, they like civility, but politics in the 26 counties is a game of theatre, and it always has been. That soft voice and that friendly big smile and that warm handshake … it’s performance, it’s a mask.”
McAleer also said O’Callaghan was “punching […] Gazan students […] asylum seekers [and] Hospitals in Gaza”. McAleer also specifically mentioned Kupiszewski’s case, and called Türkiye the EU’s “offshore torture haven”.
The refusal rate is now approximately 73 per cent, where last year it was 16 per cent. The change, as pointed out by Stokes, analysis from RTÉ, and protesters in the past weeks, is that students who are being accepted are in receipt of government scholarships. This is despite the fact that many non-government scholarships offer either equivalent or greater financial resources.
Furthermore, visa rejection letters seen by the University Times point to the same reasons for refusal, including lack of original documents, lack of evidence for incentive to return to their home country, educational gaps, and finances.
