Government  accused of creating 'environment of fear' for asylum seekers

Deportees are escorted from Garda vehicles to a charter aircraft. Picture: Chani Anderson

Civil society organisations have hit out at the Government for creating an “environment of fear” for asylum seekers by publicising deportation operations.

In a joint statement, organisations Doras, Nasc, Irish Refugee Council, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Spirasi, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said they were extremely concerned about the negative impact and consequences of deportation operations being undertaken by the Department of Justice.

It comes after a special report in the Irish Examiner this week, where it was provided with journalistic access to the deportation process, a first for An Garda Síochána.

This sixth chartered deportation flight of the year saw 52 Georgian nationals flown out of Dublin Airport to the nation’s capital Tbilisi. 

It included three families, three mothers, and seven children.

“The publicity generated around deportations appears intended to deter people from availing of their right to seek international protection in Ireland,” the groups said.

“Hindering or discouraging applications for asylum potentially puts people at risk of exploitation and harm.

It is crucial to recognise that many of the people being deported have spent years in the international protection system, have established lives here, and contribute to their communities. They work, their children attend school, and yet they remain at risk of deportation.

The groups said it was important to recognise the contribution many of the individuals are making through their employment, adding the process fails to recognise children’s physical, psychological, and emotional needs.

“[The public approach] fails to respect people’s dignity, does not recognise their contribution and value to Irish society, and risks putting them in danger in the country they are returned to,” they said.

“The Government should put in place alternatives for those who do not qualify for asylum, such as using existing work permit programmes to enable people to remain in Ireland.” 

Instead of focusing on deportations, the NGOs urged the Government to create a fair and accessible international protection system, with upcoming legislation to translate EU law an opportunity to “get this right”.

The International Protection Bill 2025 as currently formed, created serious concerns, including that people could be deported without having exhausted all available remedies, they said.

Furthermore, they said children or vulnerable applicants could be placed in detention while awaiting removal.

Under the new proposed law, a person would have just five days from receipt of a deportation order to voluntarily return.

“Additionally, under the proposed legislation, people may be removed without a deportation order and without the benefit of a suspensive appeal,” they said. 

“Families with children, including those in the border procedure, could be removed from the State even while their appeal is pending. 

"This represents a profound change that goes far beyond what is prescribed by the EU Pact."