From:Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has confirmed that a charter operation to South Africa has been conducted.

Deportation orders against 42 South African nationals were enforced by charter flight on Thursday 18 June 2026. The flight departed Dublin airport at 15.30 and landed in Johannesburg on Friday, 19 June at 04:00 (Irish time).

9 men, 18 women and 15 children were removed. All children were part of family units.

Today’s operation is the fourth deportation charter flight to date in 2026. Three previous operations removed 130 people from the State, including 67 EU citizens on grounds of criminality.

This builds on six charter operations conducted in 2025 which saw the removal of 205 people from the State.

In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024. To date this year 2,108 deportation orders have been signed.

Commenting on this operation, Minister O’Callaghan said:

“Our immigration system must be rules based and robust. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

“The vast majority of South African nationals are legally resident in the State and positively contribute to society.

“I would like to thank the members of An Garda Síochána and officials from my department for their continued work in conducting these complex operations."

Minister of State with responsibility for Migration, Colm Brophy added:

“It is necessary to recognise that Ireland welcomes migrants as they play an important role in our economic, social, and community life. However, they must enter through the various legal pathways available and abide by the laws of the State. My department has taken significant action to improve enforcement measures with 4,700 deportation orders signed in 2025."

The returnees were accompanied on the flight by members of An Garda Síochána, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

Further charter operations will be conducted throughout 2026.

The costs for the provision of the aircraft for this operation are €735,000 (ex VAT) for a return flight.

In 2025, 4,700 deportation orders were signed, an increase of 96% compared to 2024. 2,108 deportation orders have been signed up to 12 June 2026.

In 2024, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return). In 2025, 2,111 people had their departure confirmed through these pathways, an increase of 88% compared to 2024. Up to 12 June 2026, 1034 people have departed the State through these pathways.

Voluntary return is an option open to people who have no legal status in Ireland including those who are refused International Protection. Where this option is taken up, a deportation order is not issued in respect of that person.

In 2024, the number of voluntary returns stood at 934. In 2025, 1,616 people availed of voluntary return. This is the preferred method of removing people from the State. Up to 12 June 2026, 712 people have availed of voluntary return.

Furthermore in 2025, six charter flight operations removed 182 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State, and 23 EU nationals were removed on Removal Orders.

This removal flight was provided by Air Partner Ltd at a cost of €735,000 (ex-VAT) for a return flight.

The total costs for this operation are not yet available as the invoicing process has not yet been completed.

Charter flights have expanded the Garda National Immigration Bureau’s capacity to enforce a greater number of deportation orders, while also providing an alternative to the use of commercial flights. Charter operations can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same location.