A total of 42 South African nationals were deported from Ireland following an immigration enforcement operation carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The operation took place on Thursday and was conducted in line with deportation orders issued by Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan. According to authorities, all 42 individuals were removed from the State on a chartered flight that departed Dublin on Thursday afternoon and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning.
Among those deported were 27 adults, comprising nine men and 18 women, as well as 15 children. The juveniles were all members of family groups and travelled alongside their relatives during the deportation process.
Irish authorities stated that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws and implement deportation orders issued by the government. Two of the individuals removed during the operation had previously been convicted of criminal offences in Ireland.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said the removals support wider nationwide immigration enforcement activities and reflect continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies and government departments.
“Gardaí continue to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy and the Irish Prison Service in the implementation of these operations,” the spokesperson said.
The deportation flight marks another significant immigration enforcement action by Irish authorities as the government continues to address issues related to undocumented migration and compliance with residency regulations.
The operation also comes after an administrative change introduced in 2024, when the Department of Justice assumed responsibility for immigration registration functions previously handled by An Garda Síochána. The transfer of these duties was aimed at streamlining immigration services while allowing gardaí to focus more directly on law enforcement and immigration compliance activities.
Officials have not released further details about the individuals involved or the specific circumstances that led to the deportation orders being issued.
