Government signs 183 deportation orders for Afghans fleeing Taliban in 2024/25
Gordon Deegan
The Government has signed 183 deportation orders in the last two years for Afghans who have fled the repressive Taliban regime.
New figures provided by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan show that since 2021, the Government has signed 201 deportation orders for Afghans made up of 147 males and 54 females, with the rate of deportations rapidly accelerating this year.
The 201 who have received deportation orders include 37 minors.
The Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and have deepened their repression of the country in the four years since.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Taliban have continued to bar women from universities, while women also face severe restrictions on employment, freedom of movement, and access to public spaces and services.
In response to a series of written Dáil questions from Presidential candidate and independent Galway West TD, Catherine Connolly, on the issue, Mr O’Callaghan cautioned that “it is important to note that in most cases where a deportation order has been signed in respect of Afghan nationals, these are cases where the person has not cooperated with the International Protection process.”
Mr O’Callaghan stated that this includes where “a person does not attend interviews or make representations that they and their family should be granted permission to remain in Ireland, therefore leaving no option but to sign a deportation order".
He said that “Section 51 of the International Protection Act 2015 provides that the Minister 'shall make' a Deportation Order in such circumstances”.
Mr O’Callaghan stated that of the 201 deportation orders between 2021 and 17 October 2025, 123 have been signed in 2025, with 60 signed in 2024.
He said: “From 2021 to 2023 inclusive, a total of 18 deportation orders were signed in respect of Afghan nationals.”
In contrast, in a separate Dáil reply to Deputy Connolly, Minister O’Callaghan confirmed that between 2021 and 2024, Ireland has supported more than 700 people to move to Ireland from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
He explained: “This work continues through the Humanitarian Admissions Programme, prioritising at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary and journalists."
In relation to a separate programme, Minister O’Callaghan stated that in 2021, his Department opened the Afghan Admission Programme (AAP) in response to the humanitarian situation in that country.
He said: “This programme allowed Afghan nationals already resident in Ireland to apply to bring their close family members to join them, upon satisfying the relevant programme criteria.”
He said: “The AAP closed on 11 March 2022, and my Department received 532 applications in respect of 1,549 potential beneficiaries. The AAP unit commenced issuing decisions in the last quarter of 2022."
He said that to the end of September 2025, 339 positive decisions have been issued in respect of more than 984 beneficiaries.
He said that “one of the conditions of the programme is that sponsors must have sufficient financial resources to support all of their successful beneficiaries from the date of their arrival in the State, until they are able to support themselves”.
He said: “The sponsor must also be in a position to arrange and pay for necessary travel arrangements for all beneficiaries for their travel to the State.”
