A group of 42 South African nationals who were residing illegally in Ireland has been deported and returned to Johannesburg aboard a chartered flight.
The deportees arrived in South Africa on Friday after departing from Dublin Airport on Thursday afternoon.
The group comprised nine men, 18 women, and 15 children, with the minors travelling as part of family units.
According to a report published by The Irish Times on June 19, 2026, two members of the deportation group had previous criminal convictions in Ireland.
Commenting on the development, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, stated that most South Africans living in Ireland are law-abiding residents with legal immigration status. He stressed the importance of maintaining a system that is “rules-based and robust”.
The minister added that the government considers enforcement measures, including deportations, necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the immigration framework and to uphold public trust in the country’s immigration regulations.
The deportation operation comes as Ireland implements stricter immigration controls through revised visa policies. Earlier, the Irish government announced changes requiring citizens from certain countries to obtain visas before entering the country.
Under the new immigration rules, nationals of Saint Lucia, Nicaragua, and Saint Kitts and Nevis must now secure visas before travelling to Ireland. The updated visa requirements officially came into effect on June 15, 2026, marking a significant shift in the country’s immigration policy.
