Ireland deporting Africans to South Africa

The Irish Government has deported 54 adults and nine children to South Africa in what authorities describe as a routine immigration enforcement operation.

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan confirmed that the chartered flight departed from Dublin shortly after 5pm on Saturday and arrived in Johannesburg after 4am Irish time on Sunday.

The group comprised 28 men, 26 women and nine children. According to the Department of Justice, the children were part of family units.

Among those deported were Titilayo Oluwakemi Oyekanmi and her three sons - Samuel, Joseph and Genesis - aged between five and 18. The children had attended local schools and sports clubs in south Dublin. The family had recently been the focus of a public protest outside the Department of Justice.

This marks the second charter deportation flight carried out in 2026 and the eighth since the Government took office in early 2025. Authorities have confirmed that further operations are planned for the year.

Those removed from the country were accompanied by members of An Garda Síochána, along with medical personnel, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

"Charter flights are now a routine and essential part of immigration enforcement for the State," O'Callaghan said.

"Without effective enforcement measures, our immigration laws would be undermined, and I want to ensure that there is public confidence in the application of our laws in this area. If a person does not have a legal permission to be in the State, or has been involved in criminality, they will be removed," he added.

In a separate statement, the Garda confirmed that 10 of the 54 adults deported had previous criminal convictions in Ireland.

Minister of State Colm Brophy stressed that the majority of South African nationals living in Ireland are doing so legally and continue to contribute positively to the country.

"The majority of South African nationals resident in Ireland are doing so legally, having entered the State through the various legal pathways available. They are welcome and contribute immensely to our economy and society," Brophy said.

The deportations come amid political debate over the Government's immigration reforms. Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has cautioned that aspects of the new International Protection Bill could amount to what he termed "performative cruelty."

Writing in his Sunday Times column, Varadkar welcomed certain elements of the proposed legislation but raised concerns about stricter family reunification rules. Under the proposed changes, individuals granted leave to remain in Ireland would not be permitted to apply for family reunification until two years after receiving status - a move critics argue could effectively separate families for up to four years.

Varadkar warned that such delays could mean parents missing significant milestones in their children's lives and questioned whether the proposal aligns with constitutional protections afforded to the family.

The Government maintains that the reforms are necessary to restore public confidence and ensure the integrity of Ireland's immigration system.