Dublin: Ireland recorded the fastest rise in immigration enforcement across the EU in 2024, with returns of non-EU nationals issued with deportation orders increasing by 265%—a fourfold rise compared to 2023. According to new European Commission data, 1,040 individuals were returned, up from 285 the previous year, far outpacing the EU average increase of 17%.
The number of deportation orders issued by Irish authorities also surged, rising by 206% to 3,234—second only to Spain in terms of growth. Most returns involved nationals from Georgia, Brazil, Jordan, and South Africa.
The Department of Justice attributed the rise to a strengthened immigration enforcement strategy, noting that voluntary return remains the preferred option. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan emphasised the importance of a fair and effective immigration system, adding that 80% of international protection applications were rejected in January 2025.
The figures reflect a broader effort to improve the integrity of Ireland’s asylum process, particularly regarding applicants from designated safe countries, whose claims are fast-tracked.
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