New Freedom-of-Information figures obtained by The Journal reveal that migrants awaiting enforced deportation now spend a median of 29 days in Irish custody—exactly the same median recorded for 2025. Between January 2025 and 8 September 2026, 477 people were detained in connection with deportation orders; 277 have already been removed from the State this year. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) says the statistics highlight the Government’s “high level of reliance on imprisonment for immigration purposes” despite legal guidance that detention should be a last resort. Cloverhill, Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre account for most detainees, exacerbating chronic prison overcrowding, which has seen more than 1,000 inmates placed on mattresses. Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy defended the approach, arguing that removal orders require firm enforcement to maintain public confidence in the system. Critics, including Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, counter that warehousing non-criminal immigration cases in prisons is “reckless” and diverts scarce capacity away from serious offenders. For corporate mobility teams, the data underscore the importance of proactive visa-compliance checks for employees and dependants. Overstays or ignored residency-permission renewals can escalate quickly from administrative fines to weeks-long detention while charter-flight removals are arranged. Employers are advised to audit expiring Irish Residence Permits (IRPs) at least 90 days in advance and provide staff with legal-aid resources if appeals are pending. The Department of Justice maintains that alternatives to detention—such as daily Garda reporting—are available, but the FOI release suggests these are rarely used in practice. IHREC is pressing for independent oversight similar to the UK’s Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons to monitor Irish removal operations.
Source: The Journal.ie
