Dr Meishan Zhang today launched her new book, Chinese-speaking Immigrants’ Experience Navigating Ireland’s 2022 Regularisation of Long-Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme, at an event hosted by Crosscare Migrant Project in Dublin. The publication presents new research into how Chinese-speaking migrants experience Ireland’s landmark 2022 Regularisation Scheme and what their experiences reveal about migration policy, access to services, and integration in Irish society.
Dr Zhang is an Immigration and Advocacy Officer with Crosscare’s Migrant Project and co-founder and director of Asian & Irish Community Connect. Her research draws on the lived experiences of migrants who apply for legal status through the scheme, highlighting both the transformative opportunities created by regularisation and the challenges that remain for migrants rebuilding their lives in Ireland.
The 2022 Regularisation Scheme marked a significant shift in Irish immigration policy, offering thousands of long-term undocumented migrants the opportunity to secure legal status. For many Chinese-speaking migrants, this created the possibility of family reunification, greater financial stability, and a renewed sense of safety and belonging. While the scheme eased many of the immediate stresses associated with living without documentation, the research finds that important barriers to full integration remain.
Language barriers and limited digital literacy continue to affect access to employment, services, and legal protections, while housing insecurity, challenges with family reunification, and gaps in healthcare access remain pressing concerns. The research also highlights that many newly regularised migrants lack clear information about their rights and entitlements, pointing to the need for stronger outreach and accessible information.
At the same time, the study underscores the vital role of social networks, NGOs, and ethnic media in helping migrants navigate the application process and access support. While these community supports are crucial, their central role also highlights the need for more linguistically and culturally accessible services within public institutions.
The research outlines several recommendations to build on the success of the Regularisation Scheme, including simplifying procedures, expanding language and digital literacy programmes, strengthening family reunification policies, and improving oversight of commercial immigration agents. It also calls for greater support for Non-Governmental and community organisations and ongoing review of immigration policies to ensure they respond to the realities migrants face.
The book emerges from the research project Interpreting Justice: An Exploration of Chinese Immigrants’ Experiences in the Immigration System in Ireland, a collaboration between Research Ireland and Crosscare Migrant Project funded under Research Ireland’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme. The project was led by Dr Zhang and hosted by Maynooth University under the supervision of Professor Rebecca Chiyoko King-O’Riain and Richard King.
The launch event also featured a demonstration of the Mi-Chat app, developed following consultations with Chinese migrants to provide reliable immigration information and support social integration. Top of Form
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