Section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, allows the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make deportation orders in respect of nine categories of persons, including those refused refugee status and persons found residing illegally in the State. Since the commencement of the Immigration Act 1999 in November of that year, a total of 9,982 deportation orders have been made to date. Details for the past three years are as follows:
Year
|
Orders Made
|
Orders Enforced
|
2002
|
2,315
|
521
|
2003
|
2,036
|
590
|
2004 (up to 31/8/04)
|
2,001
|
390
|
Deportation orders are served on the individuals concerned at their last given address with a requirement on them to present themselves to the Garda national immigration bureau so that arrangements can be made for their removal from the State. Of the 9,982 persons who were notified of their deportation orders since November 1999, over 2,000 have been deported to date. The vast majority of the remainder failed to present themselves to the Garda national immigration bureau as required and are classified as evaders who are subject to arrest and detention for the purposes of ensuring their deportation. It is not known how many of these are still in the State. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is notified of all deportations effected and persons evading deportation orders so that their social welfare benefits may be suspended.