The number of deportation orders issued in Ireland has reached 1,792 as of yesterday, marking a staggering 140% increase compared to the same period last year, according to figures to be presented by Justice Minister Helen McEntee at the upcoming Cabinet meeting. In tandem, the country has seen 98 enforced deportations so far in 2024, reflecting a 165% rise from the previous year.
Minister McEntee is also expected to highlight a notable increase in voluntary returns, with 648 recorded in 2024, a significant jump from just 175 during the same period in 2023. The rise in these figures underscores the government’s intensified focus on immigration enforcement.
Additionally, Gardaà have made 138 arrests this year for individuals arriving without appropriate documentation, resulting in several convictions. To bolster enforcement capabilities, the government is set to conclude arrangements for charter flights that will facilitate a higher volume of enforced deportations.
In a bid to enhance efficiency, the government plans to free up to 100 Garda officers to focus on immigration enforcement tasks, including deportations, with this initiative expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of next year.
At the Cabinet meeting, Minister McEntee will also present a report detailing measures aimed at expediting processing times for those seeking international protection. Since the introduction of accelerated international protection processing in November 2022, there have been significant reductions in applications from the designated safe countries of origin.
Currently, the list of safe countries has expanded to include 15 nations: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Malawi, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, and South Africa. The minister will explain that accelerated processing also applies to applicants who have previously received protection in other European countries.
Furthermore, the initiative targets citizens from the two countries with the highest application rates in the previous quarter, which are presently Nigeria and Jordan. This measure was first implemented for Nigerian applicants in April and was later extended to include applicants from Jordan in July.
Minister McEntee will also address ongoing collaborative efforts among the Department of Justice, the UK Home Office, and law enforcement agencies, including the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the UK Border Force, to protect the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse. She will underscore that daily immigration investigations and enforcement actions are being conducted in close cooperation with these agencies to identify and address any violations of the CTA.
As Ireland grapples with increasing immigration enforcement, the government is poised to implement further measures aimed at streamlining the process and enhancing the integrity of its immigration system.