Vol. 398 No. 4
58 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens who have been deported by US immigration authorities to the Republic of Ireland for the years (a) 1988 and (b) 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
According to official United States statistics the numbers of Irish citizens deported from the US in the years 1988 and 1989 were ten and 14, respectively. I should point out, however, to the House that the majority of out of status Irish citizens who come to the notice of the US immigration authorities accept the option of voluntary departure from the US and are not the subject of deportation orders. In 1988, 43 Irish citizens opted for voluntary departure and last year the figure was 54.
