This comedian jokes about deportation from Ireland … but it is happening for real

Jaishree Malik bounds on to the Cheeky Monkey comedy club stage and brandishes an envelope – it is a letter from the Irish government. Would the audience like to hear what’s in the letter?

“Yeah,” the first rows reply. She repeats the question, prompting a louder response. “Yeah!”

Malik extracts typed A4 pages and begins to read. “I wish to advise you that under section 3 of the immigration act 1999, the minister for justice, home affairs and migration is proposing to make a deportation order in your case.”

A nervous laugh ripples across the audience, then there’s a pause. “Oh,” says someone.

Malik beams. “Don’t worry, it’s not for you.” She resumes reading. “The reason for this is because you have remained in the state without permission […] you are therefore a person whose deportation would, in the minister’s opinion, be conducive to the common good.”

For the audience in the basement of the International bar in central Dublin, the penny drops: the letter is real. Malik, 25, is facing deportation to her native India.

“Did you know you were friends with a criminal?” she asks. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” She cracks a few more jokes, then: “In case you can’t tell, I’m fucking furious about this.” She concludes her set to whoops and applause.

Malik may be the only immigrant in Ireland to turn her own deportation order into comedy but plenty of others share her anger at a system they say has become harsh and arbitrary.

The Irish government has toughened border enforcement and rules on migration, asylum and naturalisation amid a housing shortage and strain on public services partly attributed to immigration. Placards at anti-immigration protests declare that “Ireland is full”.

The justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, has said the authorities wish to curb population growth that is seven times the EU average. Critics say the welcome mat has been withdrawn unfairly from deserving cases, including students from Gaza denied visas despite scholarship offers from Irish universities.

Others, such as Malik, have had visa renewal and extension requests delayed and denied despite job offers. “It’s Kafkaesque. Why would I read The Trial? I’m living it,” she said in an interview, referencing the novel about a protagonist pitted against unreasoning bureaucracy.

From Gurgaon, near Dehli, Malik moved to Ireland in 2022 on a student visa to pursue an M.Phil (Master of Philosophy) in literature at Trinity College Dublin. She had a job on campus during her studies advising prospective and current students. After graduating she obtained a visa that let her stay and work for two years through the Third Level Graduate Scheme and continued working at Trinity with international exchange students.

She moved to another job in Trinity and applied to the department of justice to extend her visa, pending confirmation of a new one, but a delay in processing the application led to Malik losing that job in February and entering legal limbo. The department told her she had no right to work while the application was being processed.

She submitted additional information to bolster her case and, while awaiting a ruling, subsisted on savings and channelled her anxiety at open mic comedy nights. Malik had dabbled in comedy at Trinity but never previously performed around the city.

“Your best material comes when your life is falling apart. But the first time I was so scared. I was reading bits from my phone. It wasn’t landing very well, I didn’t know where to pause. But I got a lot of good feedback. All the comedians were absolutely lovely.”

Malik refined her act and incorporated her exasperation when the department of public works offered a job that she could not accept because of the visa imbroglio. “It’s so absurd. I’m being offered a job by the government that I can’t take because of the government.”

Some audiences think she is playing a character, she said. “They come up to me and say, ‘Oh, that’s so funny’. Then I explain and they’re like, ‘Oh wait, it’s actually real?’”

Ivana Bacik, a legislator and leader of the Labour party, said Malik’s case reflected a hardening of immigration policy. “It’s impacting on lots of people and indeed lots of employers because they’re losing good people.”

The department of justice was using “spurious reasons” to deny visas to Gaza students, said Bacik. “I believe there’s much more compassion and warmth towards inward migration among Irish communities and it’s not reflected in the ministry’s approach.”

A group that represents the Gaza students said the “breakdown” started this summer. “We were refused for documents we were never asked to provide, such as a bank statement and proof of intention to return,” it said in an emailed statement. “We were then told to appeal with original documents by post, and as you know, Gaza is destroyed and there is no postal service.” The students have taken test cases to Ireland’s high court.

A department of justice spokesperson said he could not comment on the court cases but that screening and verification were integral to the immigration system and that there had been no change in policy towards Palestinian students. “Each visa application is assessed on its own merits.”

For Malik, the battle to remain in Ireland ended with the deportation letter sent on 5 October. She will leave next month but continue performing until the end.

“I am very angry but when I get up on stage and I make people laugh, it sort of disarms the anger and the political stuff. If I can go up there and make you laugh about something so powerful it makes it less powerful and it becomes the joke. That is the jester’s privilege.”

Ireland is not immune to xenophobia and racism but audiences have been supportive, said Malik. “I’m talking about visas, yes, but under this I am still a person. I’ve made a lot of Irish friends who are basically family and they’re all outraged on my behalf.”

She has not fully absorbed the fact she must leave, she said. “I don’t think it’ll hit me until I’m on the plane.” She is bracing for “reverse culture shock” once back in India.

In the meantime, Malik is preparing to shed her possessions, close her bank account and pack before heading in the early hours of 14 November to Dublin airport. “My flatmate drives and she’s offered to take me even though it’s a very inconvenient time. That’s a very good flatmate. Shout out to the flatmate.”