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The Minister for Justice has announced that 42 South African nationals were removed from the State yesterday after failing to comply with deportation orders.
Latest figures from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration show that in the week between the 7th and 12th of July 2026, a total of 257 people claimed asylum in the State.
Of these, the largest cohort, 65% or 166 individuals, are single males, the majority of whom, 97, are from Somalia.
The total number of individuals in state-provided IPAS accommodation has skyrocketed from 5,096 as of 31/12/2017 to a figure of 33,068 as of 7/6/2026.
Speaking of yesterday’s Deportation Flight, a Garda spokesperson said the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) “carried out an operation removing individuals from the State on foot of Deportation Orders issued by the Minister for Justice.
This operation resulted in the removal of 42 South African nationals – 9 adult males, 18 adult females and 15 juveniles.
The juveniles removed were all part of family groups.
All individuals were removed on a chartered flight which left Dublin yesterday afternoon for South Africa, arriving this morning, Friday 19th June 2026.
Two of the individuals removed from the State had been convicted of offences in this jurisdiction, and their removal supports ongoing operations by An Garda Síochána nationwide.
An Garda Síochána continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy and the Irish Prison Service in the implementation of these operations.”
The latest week of arrivals also included 32 from Pakistan, 27 from Ukraine, 24 from Afghanistan, 12 from Nigeria, 8 from Vietnam, 6 from Sierra Leone, 5 from Albania, 4 from Cameroon, 4 from Egypt and 38 individuals listed as “other”.
Figures for the month of May show that 292 arrivals from Somalia were recorded, with 97 from Pakistan, and 240 from Nigeria being the biggest groups. For every week of that month, the majority of arrivals were single males, with the lowest percentage at 50% and the highest at 63%.
EU Migration Pact
The EU Migration Pact came into effect on the 12th of June last amid sharp criticism from a number of political players.
Independent TD for Offaly, Carol Nolan, said at the time, “From this week, Ireland’s ability to make its own decisions on asylum processing, border controls and migrant relocation will be significantly weakened,” she said.
“Indeed, the Government’s decision to opt into this Pact effectively means key powers have been permanently transferred to Brussels, leaving future Irish governments with far less flexibility to respond to our country’s specific needs. It will be a knockout punch to Irish sovereignty delivered up on a platter by successive governments which should have been fighting our corner,” she added.
“In May 2024, I brought forward the then Rural Independent Group’s Private Members’ Motion opposing the Pact. I warned that this agreement would undermine Irish sovereignty and that the interests of the Irish people must be placed first. I specifically highlighted the serious democratic deficit in how the Government was rushing this through with minimal scrutiny. I described the narrow vote to proceed as ‘the crack through which chaos will enter,’ and I stand over those remarks. Without national sovereignty on these issues, a loss of control and chaos will follow.”
Deputy Nolan pointed to the immediate changes starting this week, including reduced national control over immigration policy at a time when housing, healthcare and services are already under severe pressure:
“The Irish people were never consulted on this major transfer of power. Instead, the government has bound the hands of future governments and exposed Irish communities to decisions made by EU committees. This is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for our country,” Deputy Nolan said.
Last week, Aontú Deputy Paul Lawless called on the government to put the EU Migration Pact to a new vote in the Dáil.
He said that the migration pact was passed by the last Dáil in 2024 by “a tiny margin” – and that the Dáil’s mandate has changed.
“It could have huge ramifications for the country, and we in Aontú have always been of the view that it should be put to the people by way of referendum,” he said.
And Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn said that he had received thousands of emails to his office regarding the Migration Pact.
“My office has received an extraordinary volume of correspondence on the EU Migration & Asylum Pact,” he said. “People are asking serious questions about democratic accountability, sovereignty and public consultation. I’ve heard those concerns.”
“I’m seeking answers from the Government on what Ireland has signed up to, what it will cost and what powers remain in Irish hands,” he said.
He pointed to the housing crisis and the effect of immigration on it as reasons to support sovereignty over migration policy.
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