No fewer than 42 South African nationals, who were living in Ireland illegally, were deported back to Johannesburg, and arrived on Friday, in a chartered flight.
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The deportees included nine men, 18 women, and 15 children. The children were deported as part of their family units. They departed from Dublin Airport on Thursday afternoon and landed in South Africa on Friday morning.
According to reports from The Irish Times on June 19, 2026, two of the individuals included in the deportation group held criminal convictions in Ireland.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, addressed the situation, noting that the vast majority of South Africans residing in the country do so legally.
He emphasised that the Irish immigration system must remain “rules-based and robust”.
He further explained that enforcement actions, including deportations, are deemed essential by the government to ensure the system functions effectively and to maintain public confidence in existing immigration laws.
New visa requirements
Earlier, the Government of Ireland announced new visa requirements.
The updated rules mandate that citizens from specific global regions must secure entry documents before arrival.
Under the new directive, nationals of Saint Lucia, Nicaragua, and Saint Kitts and Nevis will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. This major immigration adjustment took effect on June 15, 2026
