Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2007
538 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens who have been deported from the United States each year from 2000 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9609/07]
View answerThe breakdown of deportation figures on an annual basis, on the basis of data provided by the US Department of Homeland Security, is as shown in the table.
|
Year |
Total |
Criminal |
Non-criminal |
|
2000 |
29 |
15 |
14 |
|
2001 |
50 |
17 |
33 |
|
2002 |
64 |
15 |
49 |
|
2003 |
69 |
17 |
52 |
|
2004 |
63 |
24 |
39 |
|
2005 |
43 |
12 |
31 |
|
2006 |
39 |
12 |
27 |
Citizens in the non-criminal category are usually visa overstays, and come to the attention of the American authorities through minor misdemeanours such as traffic offences. Subsequently their residency status becomes apparent to the authorities. In this regard, there is no evidence of any particular targeting of the Irish undocumented in the US. The US Department of Homeland Security are not as yet in a position to provide figures for 2007.
I should also like to emphasise that the Embassy and the Consulates in the United States provide consular assistance and support to all Irish citizens, including those threatened with or awaiting deportation, who request such assistance.
