Seventy arrested in immigrant crackdown

Around 65 illegal immigrants are due to be deported this morning after being arrested in raids across the country yesterday.

Reports this morning said more than 70 non-nationals were detained during the raids in Athlone, Baltinglass, Mosney and Dublin.

Six of them subsequently sought High Court orders to prevent their deportations, but around 50 Romanians and 15 Moldovans are reportedly due to be flown to their home countries today.

Yesterday’s arrest operation was the largest crackdown on failed asylum seekers ever mounted by the gardaí.