Its not black and white: An investigation into the different treatments of refugees, based on their country of origin

<p dir="ltr">With Irelands complex past relationship of emigration and immigration to another countries, one would expect it to be open and accepting of others, as in the past it needed countries to be open and accepting for its people. However, immigration is a controversial topic, with polarising opinions on it and ideas on how to address it. These stances can vary as much as closed borders, stopping asylum seekers coming over altogether, to being content with mass immigration. Many factors can be attributed to this polarization, such as a resurgence of the far-right ideology, socio-economic problems such as the cost of living and the housing crisis, and the influx of refugees coming into Ireland. Within this, there is a discrepancy between the treatment of refugees, based on the colour of their skin and country of origin. I aim to show this discrepancy by interrogating this difference in treatment through visual analysis of different mediums such as pamphlets, newspapers, websites, and posts made by far-right groups and figures on social media. I explore government policies and systems such as financial aid, visa requirements, and restrictions when applying for asylum. Lastly through social acceptance, with the public’s response being different based on the persons origin and skin colour. By analysing these topics in conjunction with each other, I intend to highlight the differences, and show that for a country that has the reputation of being open and accepting to all, that is not the reality of modern Ireland.</p>