Experiences Of Asylum Seekers Research Articles

Torture Survivors in Asylum – Ignoring the Obvious

ABSTRACT Torture is prohibited at all times and in all circumstances and states shall not return asylum seekers to their country of origin if there is any substantial risk of persecution upon return. The future risk of torture is therefore a central element in any asylum assessment. This notwithstanding, the torture experience of asylum seekers is seldom addressed during the asylum interview, hardly ever documented and rarely given particular consideration during the asylum assessment. Torture survivors seeking asylum are therefore in a paradoxical situation, on the one hand universally acknowledged to be highly vulnerable and potentially worthy of protection and medical rehabilitation, and on the other hand having their torture experiences under-communicated and ignored. Based on research into the Norwegian immigration authorities, I will explore how ignorance is produced and maintained in everyday interaction with asylum seekers through the theoretical lens of ignorance. I argue that, during the Norwegian asylum procedure, the current paradox of hyper-visibility versus failure to acknowledge the torture experience is caused by the street-level bureaucrats’ inability to give consequence to and make bureaucratic and procedural sense of the torture experience. This inability is owing to a number of individual and structural forms of ignorance that range from bureaucratic obfuscation and rearrangement of the knowledge – ignorance assemblages, the strategic ignoring of facts, to a lack of knowledge and competency and, as such, an inability to know. However, rather than concluding that immigration bureaucracies produce indifferent street-level bureaucrats, I document the many attempts to care and to do better that do as an integral part of the ignorance that permeates the asylum system.

Qualitative methods and practices in transcultural research with forced migrants: the Asylum Seekers Photographic Interview (ASPI) methodological protocol

ABSTRACT The present study aims to describe the methodological procedures which led to the development of the ASPI, a photo-elicitation method aimed at exploring the life stories of Nigerian asylum seekers. The purposes of the manuscript are to share a research and methodological protocol for the development of similar methods as well as, through this, to extract and offer some methodological and operational research practices and criteria useful for transcultural research with forced migrants. The questioning attitude of researcher, intended as a methodological praxis in transcultural research, combined with the psychological function played by participatory research, which also engages a ‘third gaze’ on the traumatic experiences of asylum seekers, will be discussed to highlight and reflect upon the potentialities of qualitative research in this field.

Housing and health: A multidimensional, qualitative analysis of the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees living in German reception centres

ObjectivesHousing is an important social determinant of health, but the perspectives of asylum seekers and refugees (ASR) in large, centralised reception centres remain under-researched. We therefore sought to examine which housing aspects in reception centres are deemed relevant for health by ASR in Germany. MethodsBased on 47 interviews with 42 ASR in Germany originating from three different studies, we conducted a secondary qualitative analysis. We mapped interview transcripts onto existing housing frameworks and generated four central themes regarding the relationship between housing and health in reception centres. ResultsHousing affected ASR health in four key ways: 1) Material conditions, including crowding, hygiene conditions and inability to secure doors, created and exacerbated physical and mental health issues, 2) the unpredictability and instability of housing impeded integration and disrupted social and professional support networks, 3) through forced residential assignment and limited autonomy, "homemaking" is severely constrained, leading to worsened mental health, and 4) reception centres do not make sufficient accommodations for individuals with specific medical needs. ConclusionThis study offers a broad perspective on the relationship between ASR reception centres and health. It is evident that this housing context is not conducive to health. Instead, centralised accommodation facilities exacerbate existing health conditions through excessive overcrowding, insufficient infrastructure and the inability to meet health-related needs. Stressful living environments and frequent transfers further burden psychosocial health by impeding a sense of belonging and comfort and by disrupting social and care networks. Current accommodation policy and practice need to be reconsidered to safeguard the health of ASR.

Irregular Migration: Factors and Policies That Influence Irregular Migration from Sub-Saharan Africa to the EU

Over the past decades, there has been an increase in the number of African asylum seekers applying for international protection in the European Union (EU). In 2015, more than one million people crossed the Mediterranean Sea, risking their lives to reach European soil. African asylum seekers and other irregular migrants now find themselves at the centre of the political debate on immigration in Europe. Although human migration is not a new development in our world today, how people migrate, where people migrate to, the routes people migrate by, and the consequences of their migration have generated different perspectives on migration, especially irregular migration. This article aims to explore the causes and motivations of African asylum-seekers who enter Europe to seek international protection. The study will then robustly examine the EU policies that seek to reduce the number of African asylum seekers who arrive in the EU, focusing on the EU Border Management Agency (FRONTEX) and the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). It proceeds to consider these policies in light of the experiences of asylum seekers who have encountered them firsthand. The study will conclude by dismissing financial aid as a means of reducing the number of African asylum seekers arriving in the EU and will make a recommendation as to how the EU might address this issue.

Discrimination in the private rental market in Australia: large families from refugee backgrounds

Securing appropriate housing is a crucial component of resettlement for people with refugee experience, but many face challenges in securing private rental housing, including discrimination, particularly for large families. This paper explores refugee and asylum seeker experiences of discrimination in the private rental market through in-depth semi-structured interviews with refugees and asylum seekers from large families (N = 22), service providers (N = 18), community leaders (N = 4), real estate agents (N = 11) and lessors (N = 10). Interviews were thematically analysed. The analysis identified the pervasive nature of discriminatory practices in private rental housing affecting large refugee and asylum-seeking families, though it was not always recognised as discrimination. Market factors and risk assessments were highlighted as contributing to discrimination and how agents’ and lessors’ working definition of discrimination manifested in their tenant selection practices. While service providers and some agents sought to counter discriminatory practices, the significant impact of discriminatory housing practices for refugees and asylum seekers was evident and poses important policy and practice questions.

COVID-19 and Protracted Displacement: a Scoping Review of Migration Policies in Mexico and Central America

By the end of 2020, more than 500,000 migrants from Central America, Haiti, Africa, and Asia sought asylum along the US-Mexico border despite COVID-19-related travel restrictions and public health measures. A scoping review was conducted to understand the role of COVID-19-related policies on irregular migration flows through Central America and Mexico and to examine the experiences of asylum seekers traversing this region. Peer-reviewed literature, policy briefs, and commentaries were screened for inclusion, resulting in 33 documents selected for this review. This review identified three dominant themes: border closures due to multiple national migration policies, delays in asylum procedures, and increased risks to migrant wellbeing. This article argues that border closures were a punitive policy measure to deter irregular migration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications for future research and policy include prioritizing the health needs of asylum seekers and advocating the appropriateness and effectiveness of immigration and public health policy.

The impact of social capital and social environmental factors on mental health and flourishing: the experiences of asylum-seekers in France

BackgroundThere is growing interest on how social capital and related social environmental factors impact overall population health and well-being. The nature of asylum-seekers’ social environment alters once they migrate to a new context and these changes influence their mental health and well-being. However, there is limited scholarship on how these social environmental factors impact the mental health, well-being, and capacity to flourish of asylum-seekers.MethodsThe aim of the study, therefore, was to examine how specific social environmental factors—social networks, social support, and social cohesion at various levels (micro, meso, and macro)—influence the mental health, well-being, and capacity to flourish of asylum-seekers in France. In collaboration with a community-based organization, we used a qualitative research design to conduct 120 semi-structured interviews with asylum-seekers in France.ResultsThe emerging salient themes depicted how the asylum-seekers’ usual informal social networks comprised of family and friends had been disrupted since they migrated to France, which impacted their mental health and well-being. Conversely, staying connected with their informal transnational social networks via social media and developing ties with new local informal and formal social networks allowed them to receive different forms of social support, and buffered some of the negative mental health consequences. However, the lack of social cohesion due to a lack of belonging, marginalization, and current harmful migration-related policies impeded asylum-seekers’ capacity to flourish.ConclusionWhile social support derived from social networks buffered some negative impacts on mental health and well-being, the overall lack of social cohesion ultimately impeded asylum-seekers’ capacity to flourish within their host communities, which was further exacerbated by harmful migration policies of exclusion within France. Introducing more inclusive policies related to the governance of migration and an intersectoral approach that views health in all policies is key to promoting social cohesion and flourishing among asylum-seekers in France.

Attitudes and experiences of asylum seekers and refugees to the COVID-19 vaccination: a qualitative study.

COVID-19 disproportionately affected asylum seeker and refugee (ASR) populations owing to language and cultural barriers, lower health literacy, polytraumas and mental health needs, and increased exposure. Despite this, there was vaccine hesitancy and low vaccination rates in ASR populations. To explore the attitudes to and experiences of the COVID-19 vaccination among ASRs. Qualitative study of 12 diverse purposively recruited ASRs in Bristol. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically to identify emergent themes. Eight refugees and four asylum seekers were recruited, five of whom were female and seven male, aged between 23 years and 48 years; together representing seven countries. Six were part of a UK Home Office (UKHO) resettlement programme, and six had arrived in the UK by independent means. Analysis showed delayed uptake rather than vaccine refusal owing to the following three main themes: systemic asylum issues (repeated relocation, uncertainty, and dependency on the charity sector); fear (secondary to social isolation, misinformation, and mental illness); and trust (surrounding access to care and community relationships). Fear, trauma, and isolation propagated by systemic issues are primary factors impacting healthcare decision making, and standard approaches to increasing vaccination uptake must be reconsidered in light of these issues. General practice must appreciate and invest in providing security in healthcare access for ASR populations. Barriers to practice registration must be overcome to enable ASRs to access care both around vaccination and afterwards. Communication must be clear and accessible to aid individuals in making informed decisions, balancing the benefits and potential risks of vaccinations.

A Qualitative Exploration of Experiences of Asylum Seekers and People with Refugee Backgrounds in Accessing the Education System in Romania

Refugees and asylum seekers often confront particular challenges when accessing essential services in host countries. The difficulties these vulnerable groups face in meeting educational needs are documented in numerous studies. Although Romania experienced mainly transit migration, it is recently becoming a destination for refugees and irregular migrants. Most people entering the country are young or minors, and access to education is crucial for their economic future and a successful integration process. The present paper primarily explores the challenges and difficulties asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds experience in accessing educational services in Romania. It is framed within an interpretive paradigm using qualitative interviews with asylum seekers, people with refugee backgrounds, and NGO representatives to collect data. This exploratory research is designed on thematic analysis: four themes and eight subthemes were identified, capturing participants’ perceptions about the Romanian education system and their barriers to accessing education programs. The findings suggest that access to education for refugees and asylum seekers was restricted primarily by language-related or bureaucratic and legal obstacles. Therefore, efforts should be made to raise awareness among the general population and specialised educational institutions. Additionally, creating more opportunities for interactions between people of different backgrounds can alleviate the persisting inequalities experienced by this vulnerable population.

‘Devout, profane and hard’, – chasing integration policy in Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT This paper considers the experience of asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland against the background of different periods of non-governance, arguing that consociationalism is hindering the implementation of an integration strategy. Northern Ireland is one of the only regions in the UK without a dedicated refugee integration strategy, in spite of one existing in draft form. As a devolved region, it sits outside the UK policy of asylum dispersal, but has to adhere to UK immigration legal policy. Northern Ireland has, however, the power to create and embed refugee integration policies and strategies as a devolved region. We seek to problematize the notion of refugee ‘integration’ within the context of a divided society, thereby questioning what it is asylum seekers and refugees are being asked to do within this discourse of integration. In a context where sectarianism continues to shape the spatial and social infrastructures, this is even more complex an aspiration.

The Mental Health of Male Sexual Minority Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Nairobi, Kenya: A Aualitative Assessment

Very little information exists about the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees who are men who have sex with men (MSM). Therefore, this study explores the psychological distress of MSM asylum seekers and refugees in the Nairobi metropolitan area. We collected data using in-depth interviews transcribed verbatim, coded using NVivo 12 Plus, and analyzed using the six-step thematic analysis framework. Four major themes emerged from the study: psychological distress, traumatic stress symptoms, mental health care access, and coping strategies. Although we did not use any diagnoses, the results indicate that MSM asylum seekers and refugees share mental health problems with other refugees. However, MSM have specific needs that derive from their persecution based on their sexual minority status. The results confirm extant findings, as seen in the discussion, and encourage more research. Further research will inform collaborative, culturally sensitive, and targeted interventions that decrease adverse mental health outcomes for MSM asylum seekers and refugees in the Nairobi metropolitan area.

Living a frozen life: a qualitative study on asylum seekers’ experiences and care practices at accommodation centers in Sweden

BackgroundForced migrants fleeing conflict and violence face a high risk of mental health problems due to experiences before displacement, perilous journeys, and conditions in the new host societies. Asylum seekers seem to be in particularly vulnerable situations, indicated by higher prevalence rates of mental health problems compared to resettled refugees. Asylum seekers’ mental health is highly influenced by the conditions they face in host countries while awaiting a decision on their case. In Sweden, 40% of asylum seekers reside in state-provided accommodation centers during the asylum process. Collective accommodation centers for asylum seekers have been said to impose restrictive social conditions and to be associated with poorer mental health outcomes than other housing forms (e.g., self-organized housing). However, there seems to be a scarcity of qualitative studies exploring the experiences of asylum seekers in different contexts. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the experiences of asylum seekers and how they manage their mental wellbeing while living at accommodation centers in Sweden.MethodsFourteen semi-structured interviews with asylum seekers were conducted at two accommodation centers in Sweden. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling and represented a diverse group of asylum seekers regarding age, background, and gender. The data was analyzed using content analysis.ResultsThree overarching categories were identified; 1) Frozen life, 2) Constant worrying and “overthinking”, and 3) Distractions and peer support. Participants experienced a state of being that could be characterized as a frozen life, which was associated with intense feelings of psychological distress, mostly described as manifesting itself in consuming patterns of ruminative thoughts, for instance overthinking and constant worrying. However, despite high levels of distress, participants demonstrated agency in managing negative mental health outcomes through self-care practices, peer support, and the development of care practices in caring for others in need.ConclusionThis study offers new insights into the everyday challenges that asylum seekers at accommodation centers face. Furthermore, it offers valuable observations of how asylum seekers at accommodation centers cope through self-care practices, peer support, and care practices in caring for peers in need. In order to enable sustainable and empowering support, mental health and psychosocial support services must identify and address both challenges and strengths, be grounded in the lived reality of asylum seekers, and build on existing resources. Moreover, further policy work needs to be done to enable faster asylum processes.

Counter memorials and counter monuments in Australia’s commemorative landscape: A systematic literature review

Over the course of the last four decades there has been a growing interest in the development and impact of counter memorials and counter monuments. While counter memorial and monument practices have been explored in Europe and the United States, relatively little research has been conducted in the Australian context. This systematic literature review examines the current state of scholarship by exploring what form counter monuments and memorials have taken and what events they have focussed on. A total of 134 studies met the selection criteria and were included in the final review. The major factors identified that have impacted on the development of the counter memorial and monument genre in Australia are international and domestic influences, historical, political and social-cultural events in Australia, the socio-political agenda of various individuals or organisations, and the aesthetics of the counter memorials and monuments themselves. The review found that Australia has a diverse and active counter memorial and monument genre, with commemorative practices honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, victims of human made and natural disasters, the experiences of asylum seekers, and the histories and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.

Diabetes management in the face of adversity: Experiences of asylum-seekers in Belgian reception centres.

Diabetes poses a heavy burden on patients due to its progressive and chronic nature; it requires continuous management to promote a high-quality and long life. Disease management is especially challenging in emergency settings. We examined how displaced people with diabetes experienced managing their illness before and throughout the process of fleeing their home communities and seeking resettlement in Europe. We designed an interview instrument with closed- and open-ended questions about diabetes diagnosis and management before fleeing the home country, during migration, stays in transit countries and reception in the European Union. We interviewed 20 asylum-seekers living in Belgian reception centres with diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Primary topics emerging from interviews were availability, accessibility, and quality. Belgium was described as a setting with high availability, accessibility and quality of diabetes management components (medication, tools, care) compared with other settings before and during migration. Even in Belgium, maintaining a healthy diet as an asylum-seeker was difficult. Other concerns such as safety, other health issues and the asylum request itself often outweighed diabetes management. Displaced people in non-Western countries need attention for nutrition and diabetes medicine, so aid agencies should consider providing for those needs. For people seeking asylum in the West and living in temporary facilities, care should be paid to the dietary options available for those with diabetes. For irregular migrants, diabetes can be deadly, and resources should be made available for their basic diabetes needs, even if they are not eligible for regular health services.

The Perspectives of Asylum Seekers When Accessing Sexual Health Services in Cork and Kerry

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to gain an understanding of the collective experiences of asylum seekers when accessing sexual health services in Cork and Kerry so that this research may inform how future policies and service provision can be targeted towards addressing these specific needs. Specifically, the objective is to determine the perceived barriers and facilitators to accessing sexual health services among asylum seekers, and to get an understanding of the overall lived experiences of asylum seekers when accessing these services. Methods This is a qualitative study which utilised data from 14 semi-structured interviews conducted with asylum seekers between May and June 2019. Participants were over 18 and living in direct provision in Cork or Kerry. This study used a content analysis to interpret the data and develop categories which produced the results. Results Participants demonstrated varying levels of understanding of sexual health and sexual health services. Several barriers and facilitators were identified which can be grouped into socioeconomic, political/legal, systemic, and social/cultural/religious barriers and facilitators. Conclusions The findings from this study highlighted several areas for improvement in the provision of information and services relating to sexual health for asylum seekers and revealed the importance of addressing these issues to fulfil the purpose of public health by promoting health, preventing disease and prolonging life for all members of society. Key messages There are varying levels of knowledge around sexual health and access to services among asylum seekers in direct provision. There are several barriers and facilitators to sexual health and access to services among asylum seekers and these highlight the areas of improvement that can shape future policy and service provision.

The Refugee Experience of Asylum Seekers in Italy: A Qualitative Study on the Intertwining of Protective and Risk Factors

This study aims to investigate the criticisms and support factors of the migratory experience of a group of asylum seekers (ASs) hosted in an Italian reception center. Starting from a psychosocial approach that gives importance to the intertwining of the personal history and context, the present study aims to explore the meaning that ASs give to their origins, the relationship of ASs with the host context and with professionals of the refugee centres, along with the representation of the Future. We conducted 27 semi-structured deep interviews with 9 male ASs with an average age of 24,4 years. In line with the research goals, we carried out an analysis of pencil-and-paper content using the interpretative-phenomenological-analysis. Three different types of refugee experience emerged: persecutory, ambivalent and integrated. The three conditions identified can help professionals to better understand the different experiences of ASs, allowing them to develop more effective interventions.

Belonging and being: developing inclusive ethos

ABSTRACT Educating students with refugee and asylum seeker experiences has become an added responsibility for school leaders worldwide. Disruptions of war, conflict, famine and drought force millions of people to leave their homelands in search of improved opportunities of a better life for themselves and their families. This research investigates and describes the strategies of one school principal who implemented the principles of the SCARF (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness and Fairness) model to guide his strategic planning and to create an ethos of belonging, care and wellbeing as a priority for his school community, despite their many degrees of personal, cultural and religious differences. This case study reports the perceptions of staff and parents and the comments of the principal as captured through surveys and semi structured interviews. The positive impact of the strategies developed by the principal and implemented in collaboration with his staff and community provide a snapshot of leading for inclusion. It lays the foundation for further investigations into the potential of the SCARF model to inform and guide school leaders in their interactions with diverse school stakeholders and illustrates how one school principal successfully used this model to build an inclusive school ethos for diverse cohorts of refugee and asylum seeker communities.

The Emergence of New Street-Level Bureaucracies in Italy’s Asylum Reception System

How does the Italian system for asylum seekers and refugees work? How do the intrinsic characteristics of the system affect the (new) professional figures involved? Are there any hidden grammars of action arising from their everyday practices? This research subsumes and tries to move beyond the questions raised above. The purpose of the research is to reflect on the role social workers have as street-level bureaucrats, considering their discretional margin of actions and their consequences. Before proceeding to a more detailed analysis of the role of social workers as street-level bureaucrats, the article highlights the historical and political turning points of the Italian reception systems and clarifies in what sense the immigration issue has become a local matter. This study adopts a qualitative research design, comprising a ethnographic field study, 55 interviews with social workers, and two focus-groups with holders of an international protection status. While working in a Temporary Reception Center, the researcher has observed how the different actions, ideals and roles of social workers significantly influence and shape the experiences of asylum seekers. The hypothesis is that while local authorities have the greater discretion in reception system choices, a new form of street-level bureaucracy is developing through everyday practices of social workers.

Nutrition and Culinary Acculturation to Turkish Cuisine of Profile of Low-Income Asylum Seekers in Ankara, Turkey: A Qualitative Study

ObjectivesSince Turkey has the highest number of asylum seekers in the world due to massive immigration in the last 10 years, institutionalizing the immigration management has been a challenge. The aim of this study is to explore regular and irregular food assistance program recipient asylum seekers’ experiences and perspectives about household nutrition and culinary acculturation to Turkish cuisine.MethodsA qualitative research has been carried out with asylum seeker parents who have been receiving cash-based assistance in Ankara in the form of Turkish Red Crescent Card, which is funded by the European Union. Thirty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 mothers and 15 fathers from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia. In the framework of the research, perceptions of how cash-based assistance and/or solely food aid supports their household nutrition; as well as experiences of parents, with a focus on how these programs affect their culinary acculturation were explored. Thematic analyses were conducted with using NVivo software program.ResultsCash-based assistance program with Turkish Red Crescent Card was found to be a key factor for the survival of the participants, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the allowances were highly insufficient and partially covering basic costs of living. NGOs’ food aid was irregular and most of them were tied to religious institutions. Lack of exposure to Turkish culture and language, ethnic environmental presence, cultural limitations of the emigrated country, demanding eligibility requirements, health disparities, not being able to work legally, and perceived impermanence in Turkey were found to be the main themes that were identified by the thematic analyses. Since the effect of the program on nutrition and culinary acculturation could be ameliorated by further adjustments, a conceptual framework of food-related aid experiences of asylum seekers in Turkey was created.ConclusionsAlthough Turkish Red Crescent Card is an invaluable resource for the low-income asylum seeker families, Turkey needs to adapt its food assistance program towards asylum seekers.Funding SourcesThe research was funded through a grant from the Atilim University's Starting Research Fund Program (Grant Number: ATU-BAD-1920-02).

Staff Perspectives of Safety Planning as a Suicide Prevention Intervention for People of Refugee and Asylum-Seeker Background

.Background: Safety planning involves the co-development of a personalized list of coping strategies to prevent a suicide crisis. Aims: We explored the perspectives of workers regarding safety planning as a suicide prevention strategy for people of refugee background and those seeking asylum in Australia. Method: Participants attended suicide prevention training, specific to refugees and asylum seekers, at which safety planning was a key component. Semistructured, posttraining interviews (n = 12) were analyzed thematically. Results: Four key themes were identified: safety planning as a co-created, personalized activity for the client; therapeutic benefits of developing a safety plan; barriers to engaging in safety planning; strategies to enhance safety planning engagement. Limitations: First-hand refugee and asylum-seeker experiences were not included. Conclusion: As a relatively low-cost, flexible intervention, safety planning may be valuable and effective for these groups.