There has been a significant increase in the number of Jordanian asylum seekers in Ireland via the United Kingdom (UK), The Sunday Times reported.
This rise has been linked to the new UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme, which makes it easier for Jordanians to travel to the UK.
When in the UK, asylum seekers move to the Republic of Ireland via the Common Travel Area (CTA) Arrangement and seek asylum there.
This situation has caused concern among officials in Ireland and Jordan as they work to manage the growing numbers.
The UK ETA for Jordanian nationals
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is central to this issue.
Travelers who can visit the UK without a visa must obtain an ETA before their trip to the UK.
The system aims to track the comings and goings of non-visa-travelers to strengthen UK border security.
It also ensures that all non-visa travelers are pre-screened before entering the country.
Currently, only Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and Jordan travelers require an ETA to visit the UK.
Before the UK ETA scheme, nationals of GCC countries Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) needed a £30 electronic visa waiver (EVW) for each visit to the UK.
Conversely, Jordanians needed to apply for a £115 single-use Standard Visitor visa when visiting the UK.
For just £10 per application, the UK ETA permits multiple entries to the UK over two years without going through the usual visa process.
The ETA scheme intended to boost tourism and make travel more convenient for people from these countries.
However, it has also opened up a new pathway for some Jordanian citizens to come to the UK, move to Ireland, and seek asylum there.
How the ETA Scheme led to a surge in asylum seekers
Since the expansion of the ETA scheme, the number of Jordanians seeking asylum in Ireland has increased dramatically.
Figures from the Department of Justice showed that only 29 Jordanians sought asylum across January and February.
This increased to 127 asylum seekers in March after the UK introduced the ETA scheme to Jordanian citizens.
Since then, the numbers have been increasing, with 140 asylum applications from Jordanians made in April.
There were 423 asylum applications from Jordanian nationals in May, while 318 applications were lodged in June.
In July 2024, 512 Jordanians registered to claim asylum in the UK.
Overall, in just the first seven months of 2024, the number of Jordanian asylum seekers has skyrocketed to 1,549.
This is a significant uptick since there were only 53 asylum seekers from Jordan last year.
This sharp rise is mainly due to the CTA agreement between the UK and Ireland, which allows people to move freely between the two countries.
Once Jordanians enter the UK using the ETA, they can easily travel to Ireland to apply for asylum.
Complications with Palestinian refugees in Jordan
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the presence of a large number of Palestinian refugees in Jordan.
These refugees have fled the ongoing conflict in their homeland and have been living in Jordan, some for many years.
Under a pre-existing agreement, some Palestinian refugees have been able to obtain Jordanian travel documents.
This means these refugees are often processed as Jordanian citizens when seeking asylum in Ireland.
Irish immigration officials now face added difficulty in determining the true origins and circumstances of these asylum seekers.
As a result, Jordanian nationals are now one of the largest groups of people applying for asylum in Ireland, second only to Nigerians.
Irish immigration authorities are trying to speed up the processing of these applications to manage the increased workload.
Why Ireland Is feeling the pressure in processing asylum seekers
Ireland’s immigration system is facing strain because of this unexpected surge in asylum seekers.
The system is already under pressure and struggling to manage the influx of Jordanian nationals.
This situation has sparked discussions between Irish, UK, and Jordanian authorities.
A senior Irish government source confirmed that both Irish and Jordanian authorities are actively working together to address the issue.
The UK government is aware that the ETA scheme might be misused and has warned that abusers will face legal consequences.
A UK government spokesperson told The Sunday Times that anyone abusing the ETA will be “liable to enforcement action.”
The UK and Ireland “are jointly committed to protecting the common travel area and safeguarding it from abuse,” added the spokesperson.
On the other hand, anti-racism campaigners in Ireland advocate for a fair and humane approach to dealing with asylum seekers.
These groups argue that while it’s essential to manage immigration effectively, it’s equally crucial to treat all people with dignity and respect.
The Irish Department of Justice has noted that migration patterns constantly change, and the government’s approach adapts accordingly.
However, it affirmed that migration patterns and the government’s approach are “kept under continual review.”
It also recognized that the government’s approach to migration patterns may involve engagement with other jurisdictions.