Illegal Migrants and Their Destinies in Life Stories – Results of a Qualitative Survey Dušan Drbohlav, Eva Janská and other members of the team

METHODS Semi-structured and unstructured interviewing (winter 2005/spring 2006) Semi-structured and unstructured interviewing (winter 2005/spring 2006) (rozhovor pomocí návodu, neformální rozhovor, narativní rozhovor…) Problems: reliability of answers … e.g. „a passport issue“ Responses got from caught illegal/irregular migrants as well as from those who have not been detained yet

TWO DIFFERENT IMMIGRANT GROUPS Eastern Europe (the former USSR – European part) Eastern Europe (the former USSR – European part) long-term operation, illegal/irregular jobs in the CR Asia and Africa (India, Pakistan, Srí Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana …) Asia and Africa (India, Pakistan, Srí Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana …) „visible migrants“ – immediately caught when arriving, „it just happened“ (asylum)

Brief quantitative summary I.(N=47) Country of origin prevails Ukrainiens (21) Sex13 females, 34 males Age groups 28 from the group up to 30, 8 from 31-40, 7 from 41-50, 4 from 51 and more Status 21 single, 12 married, 7 divorced, 3 widow Education 2 University, 23 high school (but mostly training institution), 10 elementary Arriving 3 before the year 2000, no visa for Ukrainians necessary Way of arriving9 illegal, legal Visa fee USD for Ukrainians and Belorussians, for Asians or Africans

Brief quantitative summary II. (N=47) Period of illegal stay: 2-3 years (from arriving till detention) Period of illegal stay: 2-3 years (from arriving till detention) Salary: CZK/month, CZK per hour Salary: CZK/month, CZK per hour Accommodation:16 flat, 6 lodging house/dorm Accommodation:16 flat, 6 lodging house/dorm Composition of room/flat: usually 2 people per room Composition of room/flat: usually 2 people per room Payment per room and month: CZK Payment per room and month: CZK Client system: 16 "yes“ Client system: 16 "yes“ Asylum application: 27 "yes" Asylum application: 27 "yes"

Motivation (push and pull factors) Economic reasons (no jobs, low paid jobs) Economic reasons (no jobs, low paid jobs) Mafia involved Mafia involved Family problems Family problems Asylum (really developing countries) Asylum (really developing countries) Social networks (family members and friends who have already come) Social networks (family members and friends who have already come) Czech Republic as a slavic country Czech Republic as a slavic country

ARRIVAL Via tourist visa (various length) Via tourist visa (various length) Clients involved (in both countries of origin and the Czech Republic) Clients involved (in both countries of origin and the Czech Republic) Often a couple together on the move Often a couple together on the move Assistance of family members Assistance of family members Asylum channel … (after being caught) Asylum channel … (after being caught)

HOUSING Dorms Dorms Apartments (high rents) Apartments (high rents) Sometimes good and close relations between immigrants and a family (that hires an immigrant) established Sometimes good and close relations between immigrants and a family (that hires an immigrant) established

WORK Discrimination Discrimination Big and well known companies involved in hiring illegal/irregular migrants Big and well known companies involved in hiring illegal/irregular migrants Males – construction Males – construction Females – house keeping, cleaning, services (prostitution) Females – house keeping, cleaning, services (prostitution) After being caught they apply for asylum After being caught they apply for asylum Many asylum seekers (former illegal/irregular migrants) illegally work soon after their application has been submitted (against the Czech law) Many asylum seekers (former illegal/irregular migrants) illegally work soon after their application has been submitted (against the Czech law)

REMITTANCES, PAYMENTS, CARRIER Remittances sent home Remittances sent home There is some increase in immigrants´ payments over time (the longer in the country – the more experience – the more money) There is some increase in immigrants´ payments over time (the longer in the country – the more experience – the more money) Via friends and banks Via friends and banks

RELATIONS Different modes of relations towards their mother countries … Different modes of relations towards their mother countries … some has never been back, other immigrants visit their mother countries twice or four times a year some has never been back, other immigrants visit their mother countries twice or four times a year

CONDITIONS AT HOME Children are brought up by grandparents Children are brought up by grandparents

DETENTION CENTRES Good social services Good social services Not enough food, bad quality food, not enough rice … Not enough food, bad quality food, not enough rice … After being caught, no possibility to get one´s staff from a place of their housing … After being caught, no possibility to get one´s staff from a place of their housing …