By Our Reporter
Ireland has deported 42 South African nationals living illegally in the country, in an enforcement operation that has cost €735,000 (about $845,000) so far.
According to The Irish Times, the deportees — nine men, 18 women, and 15 children travelling as family units — were flown out of Dublin Airport on a charter flight on Thursday, landing in Johannesburg on Friday morning. It was the fourth major deportation charter flight Ireland has carried out this year.
The removals were enforced under deportation orders issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, which acts when a person is found to be residing in the State unlawfully and has declined the option of voluntary return. Authorities confirmed that two of those deported had prior criminal convictions in Ireland.
South Africa is legally classified by Ireland as a safe country of origin, meaning its citizens can only qualify for international asylum if they provide documentary evidence of a direct threat to their safety at home.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan stressed that while most South Africans living in Ireland hold legal status, enforcement remains central to the system.
“Our immigration system must be rules-based and robust,” he said. “The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.”
He added that the €735,000 figure was only an initial estimate, noting the full cost would not be confirmed until the invoicing process is complete.
