Irish Citizens Depart US Amid Heightened Deportation Fears

DUBLIN (Azat TV) – More than 100 Irish citizens were deported from the United States in 2025, and a significant number have voluntarily departed, as intensified immigration enforcement under the Donald Trump administration fuels widespread fear among undocumented communities. The escalating crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to a dramatic 330% surge in requests for consular assistance from Irish citizens facing deportation, prompting calls for more proactive government intervention.

The increase in deportations marks a sharp contrast to previous years, with official figures revealing that between January and September 2025 alone, 99 Irish citizens were removed from the US, according to data published by ICE. This figure is believed to have risen further by the end of last year, with total deportations for 2025 exceeding 100. For context, deportations of Irish citizens had previously ranged between five and 18 annually from 2019 to 2024. This sixfold increase underscores a renewed push for tougher immigration policies, a hallmark of Donald Trump’s approach to border security.

Irish Citizens Opt for Voluntary Departure Amid Deportation Fears

The heightened enforcement has driven many undocumented Irish citizens to make the difficult decision to leave the US voluntarily, often separating from families and established lives. Prominent Irish-American immigration lawyers, Brian O’Dwyer in New York and John Foley in Boston, have confirmed they are aware of numerous cases where individuals chose to depart rather than risk detention in what some describe as ‘hellhole’ prison-like facilities.

One poignant case highlighted by Mr. O’Dwyer involved an elderly man with a heart condition who returned to Ireland after 30 years in the US, fearing he would not survive detention. He left behind his children and grandchildren. Another Irishman was reportedly detained for seven weeks in a Louisiana facility, sharing a cell with 50 others, enduring limited water and sleeping on the floor.

These voluntary departures are also influenced by targeted campaigns from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has urged undocumented immigrants to leave the country. These campaigns include adverts warning individuals to depart ‘or face the consequences,’ and a video featuring Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stating, ‘If you are here illegally, you’re next.’ The DHS has even promoted a dedicated app for individuals to verify their departure.

Irish Government Responds to Consular Assistance Surge

The dramatic rise in deportation cases has placed significant pressure on the Irish Government to provide greater support for its citizens abroad. Junior Foreign Minister Neale Richmond informed the Dáil that there was a 330% increase in requests for consular assistance from Irish nationals facing deportation in 2025, with 65 individuals seeking help from Irish diplomats. Mr. Richmond acknowledged that his department might not be aware of all cases requiring assistance.

However, Labour foreign affairs spokesman Duncan Smith voiced strong concerns, stating that the government ‘should be doing more to seek out where Irish citizens are’ and that it is ‘not good enough for us to sit back and wait for them to request consular assistance.’ Mr. Smith also questioned the conditions in which Irish citizens are being held, noting, ‘We don’t know if Irish citizens have the right to make a phone call.’

Mr. Richmond assured the Dáil that the department is utilizing diplomatic and cultural networks to ensure Irish citizens are aware of the government’s obligations to them, though he also noted that some citizens prefer not to seek official assistance. John Deasy, a former Fine Gael TD and envoy for undocumented Irish during Mr. Trump’s first term, expressed surprise that only one detained individual sought consular support, suggesting a ‘disconnect between the Irish-American illegal population and official Ireland.’ Mr. Deasy also saw no evidence of renewed government efforts to improve access to US work visas for Irish citizens.

Understanding Legal Vulnerabilities and Enforcement Tactics

Many Irish citizens living unlawfully in the US initially entered the country legally but overstayed their ESTA visas, often referred to as ‘visa waivers’ by legal experts. This status means applicants waive their right to appear before a judge in deportation proceedings, leading to swift removal once detected by US agents. Attorney John Foley emphasized that while the Irish are not specifically targeted, ‘once they are in the system, they are in the system and get treated the same as everybody.’

Lawyers O’Dwyer and Foley report that their clinics are increasingly visited by undocumented Irish worried that even minor traffic offenses could trigger deportation proceedings. Mr. O’Dwyer believes these concerns are justified, accusing ICE officials of harboring ‘prejudice’ against many seeking to apply for citizenship. Dealing with the Trump administration on immigration matters is described as ‘difficult for everyone’ by Mr. Foley.

The significant increase in deportations and voluntary departures of Irish citizens from the US reflects the broader impact of intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, highlighting both the personal toll on individuals and the diplomatic challenges faced by the Irish government in protecting its diaspora.