Ireland has deported 35 Nigerian nationals for breaching immigration laws, according to a statement from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The deportation was carried out via a chartered flight that departed Dublin Airport on the night of June 4, 2025. Among those deported were five children and nine women, with authorities confirming that the children were traveling with family members.
“This marks the third charter operation this year,” the GNIB said. “All individuals were removed on a chartered flight, with all 35 returnees arriving safely in Nigeria this morning.”
The Irish government began operating charter deportation flights in February 2025. This recent removal is the first charter flight to Africa conducted this year.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining a rules-based immigration system. He emphasized that deportations are vital to preserving the integrity of immigration procedures.
“Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced,” O’Callaghan said. “The return of individuals whose applications have been refused and deportation orders issued is fundamental to any modern immigration process.”
He stressed that while Ireland welcomes lawful migrants, those who have exhausted all legal avenues for asylum or residency must leave the country.
“People coming to Ireland must follow the appropriate pathways for legal migration. If a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State, they must comply,” he added.
O’Callaghan also noted that the charter flight made an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident onboard but later resumed its journey without further issues.
The Irish government maintains that such deportation operations serve as a deterrent against unlawful stays and underscore the nation’s commitment to a fair and regulated immigration system.
