Ireland deports 35 Nigerians – 21 men, 9 women, 5 children – without providing reasons

Ireland deports 35 Nigerians, claims it has “a rules-based immigration system”

By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor

Ireland on Wednesday deported 35 Nigerians on an overnight chartered flight from Dublin that arrived Nigeria on Thursday morning, without information on the offences that led to the emergency airlift.

The Irish Mirror reports the returnees comprised 21 men, nine women, and five children.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan was quoted as saying, “I am happy to say that all of them returned to Nigeria despite an unscheduled stopover due to a medical incident on board” without explaining why the action was taken.

He only reiterated that “Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced.”

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) spokesman Abdur-Rahman Balogun claimed that “We were not aware of the deportation of the Nigerians by Ireland on Thursday.”

However, what is public knowledge is that the Republic of Ireland operates a rules-based immigration system, with clear policies and procedures for deportation.

The Minister for Justice can issue a deportation order against any non-EEA national residing in the country without lawful permission. This process is primarily governed by Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.

Before a deportation order is made, the individual is typically notified in writing of the Minister’s intention and the reasons behind it.

They are given a period, usually 15 working days, to make representations to the Minister, including providing information on their circumstances, duration of residence, family ties, employment, character, and any humanitarian considerations.

Voluntary return is the preferred option, and assistance may be offered to individuals who choose to leave voluntarily. If a person consents to a deportation order or fails to leave voluntarily, enforced removal may follow.

Grounds for deportation include

• Overstaying a visa.
• Refusal of an international protection application.

• Involvement in criminal activity.
• If the person’s presence is deemed contrary to the common good.

Individuals subject to a deportation order may be required to report to immigration authorities regularly.

Failure to comply with a deportation order is a criminal offence in Ireland and can lead to arrest and detention.

While a deportation order is pending, an appeal can be lodged, which generally prevents formal deportation until the appeal is decided. However, if a deportation order has already been made, individuals may need to apply to have it revoked or cancelled.

Read also:

US federal Judge blocks Trump ban on Harvard international students’ enrolment, but case likely to wind up in Supreme Court