Forty-two South African nationals who were living in Ireland without legal permission have been deported on a chartered flight as part of an immigration enforcement operation by Irish authorities.
The group—comprising nine men, 18 women and 15 children—departed from Dublin Airport on Thursday afternoon and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning. The children were all deported as part of family units.
Their removal was carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau following deportation orders issued by the Irish authorities.
According to officials, two of the individuals had criminal convictions in Ireland.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, noted that the majority of South Africans living in the country are residing there legally.
He stressed that Ireland’s immigration system must remain “rules-based and robust,” adding that enforcement actions, including deportations, are essential to ensure the system functions effectively and maintains public confidence in immigration laws.
The deported individuals have since arrived in South Africa.
Source: irishtimes.com
