Proposed new asylum measures, aimed at clamping down on economic migrants, represent "a further drift from care to deterrence" in asylum policy, IMPACT says today.
In a statement, the trade union expressed opposition to a proposal to withhold housing and social welfare payments from asylum-seekers who do not apply for asylum immediately on entering the State.
It also expressed concern at the proposed shifting of responsibility for asylum-seekers' welfare from the Department of Social and Family Affairs to the Department of Justice.
Giving Justice "total responsibility" for the welfare of asylum-seekers would "confirm and entrench" the Government's discriminatory policy on refugees.
