CASE STUDY 1:BRAZILIAN WORKERS arrived in droves to Gort, Co Galway, in the Celtic Tiger era, many of them on work permits, to take up jobs in the local meat factory.
One in four of Gort’s population in 2006 claimed Brazilian nationality. But that number may have been under-representative as many undocumented migrants who followed the meat factory workers to the town would not have filled in the census form.
While Ireland sat out the World Cup that year residents of Gort cheered alongside their Brazilian neighbours, a summer samba festival was established and, among the old-fashioned facades, new Brazilian shops sprang up.
But since the closure of the factory in 2007, the town’s appearance has changed. At least one ethnic shop has closed, although many Brazilians remain.
Thiago Nascimento and his wife live in Gort and have four children. They say they came here to look for work and a better life. “We had a dream to have a proper house, not to pay rent anymore. We got married here in 2008 in the winter. We feel we are at home,” says Nascimento, a tradesman.
Although he received legal status here in Ireland in mid-December, Nascimento and his children have had PPS numbers for a number of years and he has paid tax since 2006, although he was not entitled to benefits or welfare payments.
He said that although the family did not want to remain in Ireland illegally, they didn’t have the money to return home.
The couple’s youngest child had complications before birth and now requires continuing treatment. “When we were in the hospital a social worker came and tell us, you can take a medical card, some help for your baby . . . but we explained to her that we are illegal. We have a fear about this to explain to her because maybe we can’t pay for the treatment . . . but they were brilliant and they gave us help.”
This prompted Nascimento to apply for a medical card despite his fears that in doing so he could expose the family to the authorities and possible deportation.
Happily they were successful, a huge relief for Nascimento who feared for the prospects of his eldest daughter, who was born in Brazil and was illegal by default.
It also means the family can visit Brazil, something they have not been able to do since arriving.
But while Nascimento’s situation has been resolved many other families face difficulties. Rev Sebastiao Baptista of the Assembly of God of Ireland in Gort estimates up to 75 of his 100-strong congregation are undocumented. “Because of immigration, because they imported Brazilians to come [Gort] became a boom town. Why isn’t there mechanisms where the immigrants are welcomed and where they can be part of the growth of Ireland and not be put aside like right now because of economic divisions in the country?”
Frank Murray of the Family Resource Centre in Gort says the situation for undocumented migrants is down to “blind-eye politics”.
“The ones I’m really worried about are those who have no resources to go home and don’t have work here. They are in their house . . . sitting there with no fire, no gas, no lights,” he said.