Ireland deports Pakistani nationals, using chartered flight

Justice, Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Jim O'Callaghan confirmed this morning that a deportation flight to Pakistan departed Dublin Airport yesterday (September 23) with 24 adult men on board.

Deportation orders were enforced against 24 Pakistani nationals using a chartered flight. Charter operations have significantly increased the Garda capacity to enforce more deportation orders and are one of the measures being deployed by Minister Jim O'Callaghan to increase immigration enforcement and strengthen Ireland's removal pathways. 

This is the fourth operation to be carried out in 2025 since charter flights for deportations resumed in February. Speaking about the operation, Minister Jim O'Callaghan said:

"Sustained and significant action has been taken this year to strengthen immigration enforcement and remove people who do not have the legal right to remain in Ireland. We can see the results with a doubling of forced removals. 3,029 removal orders have been issued so far in 2025."

“I thank the members of An Garda Síochána and my officers for their crucial work in carrying out these sensitive and complex operations. This sends a clear message that if a person’s application for international protection is rejected and they are ordered to leave the country, they must do so. If they choose not to leave voluntarily, they will be forced to leave the country. We must stand by this principle as deportation is an essential part of any immigration system.

"Part of having a rules-based immigration system is that there are consequences when an application is refused and the person does not leave. The vast majority of people who come to Ireland follow legal pathways, and for our immigration system to work fairly and effectively, we need to protect the integrity of legal pathways."

"It is important to recognise that the vast majority of our Pakistani community are here legally. They continue to be welcome in Ireland and we value the contribution they make to our economy, culture and society."

Charter flights are used in addition to commercial flights, and are more appropriate in situations where a group of people are being transferred to the same destination. These operations are carried out under an agreement signed by the state in November 2024 to provide charter flights.

Minister Jim O'Callaghan added:

"If a person has not been involved in a crime, they are offered assistance to return home voluntarily before a deportation order is issued. This is the best outcome when it comes to implementing returns. I am increasing resources in my department's voluntary return program, which has resulted in approximately 1,200 people leaving voluntarily so far in 2025.  I continue to urge those who have this opportunity to take advantage of it."

Three charter flights have already been operated this year, removing 106 people subject to deportation orders. Yesterday's operation brings the total number of removals by charter flight to 130. In addition, 132 deportation orders have been carried out on commercial flights, and 40 people subject to deportation orders have been confirmed to have left Ireland unescorted so far in 2025.

Welcoming the flight, Migration Minister Colm Brophy said:

"Charter flights are a vital enforcement tool in our resettlement process. A key priority of this government is to ensure that our immigration laws are effective and robust, and that we have a modern immigration system that is fit for purpose."

"This is the fourth charter flight this year and I would like to thank the members of An Garda Síochána and the officers involved for their continued efforts to ensure these operations are carried out professionally."

"It is essential to remove people who are not authorized to remain in the state, thus upholding the integrity of the immigration system."

Those involved were Pakistani nationals, and the charter flight departed Dublin Airport at 7pm on Tuesday and arrived in Islamabad this morning.

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Immigration has taken steps to significantly improve immigration enforcement and increase removals. 2,403 removal orders were signed in 2024, a 180% increase compared to 2023. This year, 3,029 removal orders were signed in the period to September 23, 2025, and 1,501 people left the country under various mechanisms (i.e., forced removal, voluntary return). 

In addition to chartered flights, 132 people have been deported this year on commercial flights. The government also confirms that 40 people have left the country on their own, unescorted. So far this year, 1,175 people have been given the opportunity to return voluntarily, a significant increase compared to 934 last year.  

Voluntary return is an option for people who do not have legal status in Ireland, including those denied international protection. Where this option is taken, a deportation order will not be made in relation to that person. The number of voluntary returns has increased from 215 in 2023 to 934 in 2024. So far in 2025, 1,175 people have gone under the voluntary return programme. This is the best method of removing people from the country. In 2025, 130 people who were subject to deportation orders were returned from the country via four charter flight operations. The returnees were accompanied on these flights by Garda officers, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights monitor.

The cost and human rights implications of these measures have previously drawn criticism from the government. The chartered flight to Nigeria on 4 June cost around €325,000 to deport 35 people. At the time, Minister O'Callaghan described it as "value for money". The absence of an independent human rights monitor on the trip also drew criticism. Both ministers stressed that the vast majority of people arriving in the country were following legal channels and that the government was taking action against those who did not comply with the rules.