The number of Irish citizens deported from the United States has increased by over 50% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. According to figures released by the BBC, 99 Irish people were deported between January and September 2025, up from 60 deportations in the previous fiscal year.
The increase is attributed to more intense enforcement of immigration laws, with many individuals facing detention without prior criminal convictions. Claire Doutre, an immigration attorney, said that the recent crackdown has resulted in a lot more people being detained and deported, including those who have lived in the US for years but overstayed their visas.
Jim Brown, whose Irish citizen wife is set to be deported due to two prior convictions, expressed his concerns about the situation. He stated that his wife, Donna Hughes-Brown, was trying to survive when she committed the infractions and does not “deserve” to be detained.
The US government has stated that it can detain and potentially deport non-citizens who participate in criminality or violate their visa. However, critics argue that the system is flawed and wasting resources.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has seen an increase in requests from Irish citizens facing deportation, with 51 requests made between January and September 2025. The DFA can assist with providing information on deportation arrangements, contacting family/friends, and providing a list of English-speaking lawyers.
Experts say that there is no room for error when it comes to immigration enforcement, and detainees are often kept in facilities with deplorable conditions.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g78nj7701o