When the UK left the EU, it is uncertain as to whether border checks will be heightened in the boundary between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and Ireland. There are no physical divisions or immigration controls between the two territories, but this does not mean Philippine passport holders are entitled to enter a territory without the required visa. As Ireland and Northern Ireland operate under a Common Travel Area, the Irish border is technically an “open border”, which means only citizens of Ireland and the UK are allowed to enter both jurisdictions without passport or immigration controls.
Since the Brexit referendum, Filipino travellers have been asking if they need to present their immigration documents in the border, and like many, they are unsure as to what Brexit will entail on cross-border travellers .
Bernadette Tutaan, who drives everyday from Derry to Donegal for work, said that there are no passport checks in her daily route. “But tomorrow might be a different story!”
Myra Lynch of Cavan, who recently travelled to Enniskillen to go shopping with her family, also confirmed that there are no inspections in the border. A frequent customer of Asda, she goes to Northern Ireland every month to buy cheaper products. “The UK has just left the EU. Let us see what happens next.”
Dublin-based Ramil Tingzon toured the “Game of Thrones” film locations in Northern Ireland claimed there were no immigration officers on the train station. “I guess it’s because they have not implemented border checks yet?”
During “The Troubles,” or the 30-year conflict between nationalists (Irish or Roman Catholic) and unionists (British or Protestant) in the late 1960’s, there were evident check points stationed in the 500-kilometre border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. After the Good Friday Agreement in the 1990’s, the peace settlement removed the surveillance facilities in the separation line, allowing over 30,000 travellers to journey the travel-free zone without the mandatory inspections. Crossing the border is now simple, painless, and unnoticeable. The only giveaways are speed signs shifting from miles to kilometres, the alternating UK-Irish mobile networks, and shops that accept only Euros or Sterling.
Migrants of colour fear the Irish border when it was reported in September 2019 that residency entitlements of travellers who are visibly from religious and ethnic-minority backgrounds were checked. Philippine Consul to Ireland Raymond Garrett emphasised that reports on singling out non-Irish or non-British looking passengers will continue to have a big impact on Filipinos, many of whom are indifferent to the geographic boundaries, rules and regulations of the divided states.
Source: FB