Illegal Migrants and Their Illegal Migrants and Their Destinies in Life Stories – Destinies in Life Stories –

Results of a Qualitative Results of a Qualitative SurveySurvey

Dušan Drbohlav, Eva JanskáDušan Drbohlav, Eva Janská

and other members of the teamand other members of the team

METHODSMETHODSSemi-structured and unstructured Semi-structured and unstructured

interviewing (winter 2005/spring 2006)interviewing (winter 2005/spring 2006)(rozhovor pomocí návodu, neformální (rozhovor pomocí návodu, neformální rozhovor, narativní rozhovor…)rozhovor, narativní rozhovor…)

Problems: reliability of answers … e.g. Problems: reliability of answers … e.g. „„a passport issue“ a passport issue“

Responses got from caught Responses got from caught illegal/irregular migrants as well as from illegal/irregular migrants as well as from those who have not been detained yet those who have not been detained yet

TWO DIFFERENT IMMIGRANT TWO DIFFERENT IMMIGRANT GROUPSGROUPS

Eastern Europe (the former USSR – Eastern Europe (the former USSR – European part)European part)

long-term operation, illegal/irregular long-term operation, illegal/irregular jobs in the CRjobs in the CR

Asia and Africa (India, Pakistan, Srí Asia and Africa (India, Pakistan, Srí Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana …) Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana …)

„„visible migrants“ – immediately visible migrants“ – immediately caught caught when arriving, „it just happened“ when arriving, „it just happened“ (asylum) (asylum)

Brief quantitative summary I.(N=47)Brief quantitative summary I.(N=47)

Country of originprevails Ukrainiens

(21)            

Sex 13 females, 34 males  

Age groups28 from the group up to 30, 8 from 31-40, 7 from 41-50, 4 from 51 and

more

Status21 single, 12 married, 7 divorced, 3

widow  

Education2 University, 23 high school (but mostly training institution), 10

elementary  

Arriving3 before the year 2000, no visa for Ukrainians

necessary  

Way of arriving 9 illegal, 35-36 legal  

Visa fee90-200 USD for Ukrainians and Belorussians, 7-15000 for Asians or

Africans

Brief quantitative summary II. Brief quantitative summary II. (N=47)(N=47)

Period of illegal stayPeriod of illegal stay: : 2-3 years2-3 years (from arriving till (from arriving till detention)detention)

SalarySalary: : 10-20 000 CZK/month, 40-60 CZK per hour10-20 000 CZK/month, 40-60 CZK per hour AccommodationAccommodation::16 flat, 6 lodging house/dorm16 flat, 6 lodging house/dorm Composition of room/flatComposition of room/flat: : usually 2 people per roomusually 2 people per room Payment per room and monthPayment per room and month: : 2-3000 CZK2-3000 CZK Client systemClient system: : 16 "yes16 "yes““ Asylum applicationAsylum application: : 27 "yes"   27 "yes"   

Motivation (push and pull Motivation (push and pull factors)factors)

Economic reasons (no jobs, low paid jobs)Economic reasons (no jobs, low paid jobs)Mafia involved Mafia involved Family problemsFamily problemsAsylum (really developing countries)Asylum (really developing countries)

Social networks (family members and Social networks (family members and friends who have already come)friends who have already come)

Czech Republic as a slavic countryCzech Republic as a slavic country

ARRIVALARRIVAL

Via tourist visa (various length)Via tourist visa (various length)Clients involved (in both countries of origin Clients involved (in both countries of origin

and the Czech Republic)and the Czech Republic)

Often a couple together on the moveOften a couple together on the move

Assistance of family membersAssistance of family membersAsylum channel … (after being caught)Asylum channel … (after being caught)

HOUSINGHOUSING

DormsDormsApartments (high rents)Apartments (high rents)

Sometimes good and close relations Sometimes good and close relations between immigrants and a family (that between immigrants and a family (that hires an immigrant) established hires an immigrant) established

WORKWORK DiscriminationDiscrimination Big and well known companies involved in hiring Big and well known companies involved in hiring

illegal/irregular migrants illegal/irregular migrants

Males – constructionMales – construction Females – house keeping, cleaning, services Females – house keeping, cleaning, services

(prostitution)(prostitution)

After being caught they apply for asylumAfter being caught they apply for asylum Many asylum seekers (former illegal/irregular migrants) Many asylum seekers (former illegal/irregular migrants)

illegally work soon after their application has been illegally work soon after their application has been submitted (against the Czech law)submitted (against the Czech law)

REMITTANCES, PAYMENTS, REMITTANCES, PAYMENTS, CARRIERCARRIER

Remittances sent homeRemittances sent homeThere is some increase in immigrants´ There is some increase in immigrants´

payments over time (the longer in the payments over time (the longer in the country – the more experience – the more country – the more experience – the more money)money)

Via friends and banksVia friends and banks

RELATIONSRELATIONS

Different modes of relations towards their Different modes of relations towards their mother countries …mother countries … some has never been back, other immigrants some has never been back, other immigrants

visit their mother countries twice or four times visit their mother countries twice or four times a year a year

CONDITIONS AT HOMECONDITIONS AT HOME

Children are brought up by grandparents Children are brought up by grandparents

DETENTION CENTRESDETENTION CENTRES

Good social servicesGood social services

Not enough food, bad quality food, not Not enough food, bad quality food, not enough rice …enough rice …

After being caught, no possibility to get After being caught, no possibility to get one´s staff from a place of their housing …one´s staff from a place of their housing …