By Peter Omopo
The government of Ireland has deported 42 South African nationals who were residing illegally in the country, as part of a renewed crackdown on unlawful migration.
According to reports, the deportees, comprising nine men, 18 women and 15 children travelling as family units, were removed from the country on a chartered flight from Dublin Airport on Thursday and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning.
The operation reportedly cost the Irish government €735,000, equivalent to approximately $845,000, although authorities said the figure represents an initial estimate and that the final cost would be determined after the completion of the invoicing process.
Irish authorities said the deportees were removed under deportation orders issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau after being found to be living in the country without legal status and declining the option of voluntary return.
Officials also disclosed that two of the deported individuals had previous criminal convictions in Ireland.
The latest exercise marks the fourth charter deportation operation conducted by Ireland in 2026. Authorities said three previous operations resulted in the removal of 130 people, including 67 citizens of European Union member states deported on criminality grounds.
Commenting on the development, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, stressed the importance of enforcing immigration laws to maintain public confidence in the country’s immigration system.
“Our immigration system must be rules-based and robust. 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 said.
Ireland classifies South Africa as a safe country of origin, meaning that asylum claims from South African nationals are generally subject to stricter scrutiny unless applicants can provide evidence of a direct threat to their safety.
The deportations come amid broader migration-related tensions involving South Africa. While South African citizens are facing stricter immigration enforcement measures abroad, the country is also grappling with rising anti-immigrant sentiment and growing pressure from groups calling for action against undocumented migrants.
Recent reports indicate that concerns over unemployment and migration have fuelled unrest in parts of South Africa, leading to fears among undocumented foreign nationals and prompting some to seek refuge near border areas.
The development has also attracted diplomatic attention as discussions continue over the treatment of migrants and the broader implications for international migration management and regional relations.
