Debate contribution: Illegal Immigration and People Smuggling: Criminality
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 30 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Illegal Immigration and People Smuggling: Criminality
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5653212
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Yes, I agree. It is incredibly dangerous for us to ascribe responsibility for the crimes of an individual to a group of people with whom they associate. I think that many Members in the Chamber today will be particularly sensitive as to why that is inappropriate. People make their own decisions, commit offences and will be held guilty of the crimes that they have committed. It is not right that that should be used to besmirch those with whom they may previously have had association. It is important that the same dignity and respect that we offer to those who share our skin colour and perhaps religious background be extended to all those who live in Northern Ireland. It is of real concern to me that a young lady who happens to be Sudanese was distraught because she felt a level of guilt, responsibility or association with a Sudanese individual who potentially committed a very serious crime. We need to be careful about our language. We also need to remember that our job as elected representatives is to inform the public. It is not simply to amplify concerns that they may hold dearly but may be based on misinformation. It is for us to find the facts of the situation, to challenge misinformation where we see it and to provide people with reassurance where appropriate, rather than simply amplify concerns that are often built on social media platforms where truth, frankly, is an unknown quantity.
245 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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