The Irish government has deported 42 South African nationals who were living in the country illegally, sending them back to Johannesburg in a major immigration enforcement operation that cost about €735,000 (around $845,000).
According to reports, the group included nine men, 18 women, and 15 children travelling as family units. They were escorted from Dublin Airport on a charter flight on Thursday and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning. It was Ireland’s fourth major deportation charter flight of 2026.
The deportations were carried out following orders issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau after the individuals were found to be living illegally in Ireland and had not chosen voluntary return.
Irish authorities said two of those deported had previous criminal convictions in Ireland.
Although Ireland recognises South Africa as a safe country of origin, asylum applications from South Africans can only succeed if applicants provide evidence of a direct threat to their safety.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, said the country’s immigration system must remain strict and based on clear rules, adding that deportation orders are necessary to maintain public confidence.
He said the full cost of the operation would be known after the final invoices are processed.
The deportation is part of a wider migration challenge involving South Africa, where citizens are facing tougher immigration actions abroad while the country itself is dealing with concerns over undocumented migrants and anti-foreigner tensions.
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