Gardaí to meet Latvians over 'sham marriages'

SENIOR MEMBERS of the Garda National Immigration Bureau will meet their Latvian counterparts early next month to bolster co- operation in the fight against “sham marriages” that circumvent Irish immigration laws.

The meeting will follow a joint operation on Monday between the two police forces to free two Latvian women who were allegedly lured to Dublin on the promise of work and then pressured to get married by two men.

A Garda spokesman said two men arrested on suspicion of imprisoning the women – a 23-year- old Indian man and a 32-year-old Pakistani man – were released without charge yesterday afternoon pending the forwarding of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1027/1224282071548.html

Gardaí object to 57 suspected 'sham' marriages

GARDAÍ HAVE objected to 57 marriages in the last nine months as part of an ongoing operation to combat “sham” marriages aimed at circumventing immigration law.

They are investigating allegations of false imprisonment and rape from several women who were lured to the Republic by men promising jobs who subsequently pressured them to get married.

Chief Supt John O’Driscoll of the Garda National Immigration Bureau said yesterday many cases involved vulnerable young women, recruited particularly from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. “We have made 16 arrests so far as part of Operation Charity, which includes nine people who were removed from the State because they were here illegally. A further seven have been arrested for suspected criminality,” he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0818/1224277071207.html

Five are deported in sham marriage operation

A GARDA investigation into sham marriages for the purpose of gaining residency has led to the deportations of at least five people, the Irish Independent has learnt.

Many more deportations could follow as a result of Operation Charity, an ongoing Garda National Immigration Bureau investigation aimed at tackling so-called marriages of convenience.

The operation was set up last year to prevent and detect criminality associated with marriages between EU and non-EU nationals for the purpose of gaining residency in Ireland.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/five-are-deported-in-sham-marriage-operation-2301165.html

Up to 15% of Irish marriages could be bogus

Up to 15% of civil ceremonies held here in Ireland may be bogus, according to the HSE's superintendent registrar.

An increase in bogus marriages has been noted across the country as non-EU nationals, typically from Pakistan and India, seek residency after marrying an EU citizen.

Under an EU directive, non-EU spouses and family members of EU citizens have the right to travel freely within the union, despite the Irish Government's attempt to limit this right.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/superintendent-registrar-15-of-irish-marriages-could-be-bogus-469611.html#ixzz0wtAEg1eK

New immigration Bill published

The Government has today published a new immigration Bill which will allow for the fast-tracking of deportations.

The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 replaces earlier legislation which was to be redrafted this year.

Among the provisions included in the new Bill, which is expected to be introduced before autumn, is the fast-tracking of asylum procedures and appeals.

The new Bill has a provision enabling the Minister for Justice to disregard so-called "marriage of conveniences," where individuals have been found to have married so that one or both of them can stay in the country.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0702/breaking60.html

Gardaí to crack down on arranged marriages

GARDAí are hoping to utilise little-used laws on bigamy in an attempt to crack down on arranged marriage rackets that have become rife.

Gardaí are still involved in a lengthy investigation called Operation Charity, which specifically targeted marriages between Pakistani men and Eastern European women in Ireland.

So far, nine people have been arrested in connection with their enquiries, five of whom were evading deportation at the time.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2010/jun/27/gardai-to-crack-down-on-arranged-marriages/

No right to work for non-EU family members

THE GOVERNMENT is removing the right to work for non-EU family members of EU citizens while they await a decision on their right to residency in Ireland.

The decision reflects concerns over rising unemployment and the Department of Justice’s ongoing campaign targeting so-called “sham marriages” between EU citizens and third country nationals.

Under current rules, the family members of EU citizens who settle in the Republic can work while the Government considers their right to residency. It usually takes six months for the department to process residency cards.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0511/1224270128873.html

Marriages of 200 non-EU men under investigation

GARDAI suspect bogus companies are being set up to provide fake employment credentials for eastern European women who are brought to Ireland to take part in arranged marriages. A number of companies are under investigation after gardai came across them during an operation aimed at clamping down on arranged marriages.

The emergence of the racket provides further evidence that organised gangs are "selling" brides who are citizens of the European Union to non-European men, so they can secure residency in Ireland through marriage.

The women are typically recruited in poorer eastern bloc countries and are offered money to come to Ireland to marry failed asylum seekers or former students from Asia whose visas have run out, according to garda sources.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/marriages-of-200-noneu-men-under-investigation-2106276.html

Man guilty of holding two false passports

A PAKISTANI man (27) was yesterday convicted of possessing two false passports after being arrested as part of a Garda operation targeting alleged marriages of convenience.

Gardaí have also objected to his wedding going ahead under the Civil Registration Act. He was due to get married in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on Thursday.

Muhammad Shafi, College View Apartments, Ballymun, appeared before Judge Hugh O’Donnell at Blanchardstown District Court in Dublin.

Shafi’s conviction follows a major investigation launched by immigration officers into “sham marriages” in the Republic.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0126/1224263119350.html

People are marrying for residency

The Department of Justice is concerned that sham marriages between EU nationals and non-EU nationals are taking place to enable people to get residency permits in this country.

Last year, the Government alerted the Latvian authorities that an unusual number of Latvians living in Ireland were marrying spouses from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Some member states, including Ireland, are concerned people from outside the EU are entering sham marriages with EU citizens and then moving to another member state in order to trigger a right of residency which is implicit in the directive.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0702/marriage.html

EU sets limits on Government's 'sham marriage' investigations

IRISH GOVERNMENT investigations into “sham marriages” must not encroach on European citizens and their non-EU spouses’ right to move freely in the EU, say new guidelines.

The guidelines have been drawn up in response to complaints voiced by Ireland and Denmark following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2008 in the Metock v Ireland case.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0701/1224249839443.html

Large number of 'sham marriages' uncovered

The Department of Justice believes it has uncovered a large number of 'sham marriages' between Latvians living in Ireland and people from the Indian subcontinent.

The Government has alerted the Latvian authorities to the statistically abnormal number of marriages that would allow non-EU nationals to sidestep immigration laws.

The department has given figures to its European counterparts that show 4,600 non-EU nationals may have married non-Irish EU citizens in order to exploit a loophole in an EU directive on the free movement of people.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0925/marriage.html