Up to 90% of Ireland's asylum seekers may have entered via Northern Ireland land border, data suggests
Irish government data indicates that up to 90% of asylum seekers in Ireland may have entered the country through the Northern Ireland land border rather than at official ports or airports. This scrutiny follows a knife attack in Belfast by a Sudanese refugee who had travelled through Dublin, which sparked two nights of violence and renewed debate over the Common Travel Area. The figures highlight significant gaps in border monitoring and raise questions about the management of the open land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Data from Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade shows that only around 10% of asylum seekers applied at an airport or port, with 90% making in-person applications at the International Protection Office in Dublin — a pattern consistent across 2024, 2025, and 2026 to date. Ireland's then justice minister publicly stated in 2024 that approximately 80% of asylum seekers were crossing via the land border. The issue gained renewed attention after a knife attack in Belfast by Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee who had travelled from Sudan through Paris and Dublin before claiming asylum in Northern Ireland in 2023. The UK Home Office separately reported apprehending over 900 'immigration offenders' abusing the open border in the past year, though the absence of physical checks means precise figures cannot be verified by either government. Irish and British ministers have been in close contact to coordinate a response, and Ireland is moving to revive a post-Brexit returns agreement — previously stalled over the UK's Rwanda policy — that has so far resulted in only one asylum seeker being returned. Critics have labelled the Common Travel Area a 'back door to Britain,' with some unionist politicians calling for border closures, while academics warn the issue carries particular political sensitivity in the post-Brexit Northern Ireland context.
What's missing
The article does not provide data on what proportion of those crossing the land border ultimately seek asylum in the UK versus remaining in Ireland.
What different sources said
Up to 90% of Ireland’s asylum seekers may have entered from Northern Ireland, data shows
Related
UNRWA Fires 70 Gaza Staff Members, Denies Terminations Validate Hamas Allegations
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has dismissed 70 employees in Gaza with immediate effect, citing safety and security risks. The move follows a USAID investigation that referred over 100 UNRWA staff for suspension or dismissal, and longstanding Israeli allegations that significant portions of the agency's workforce have ties to Hamas. The firings mark a significant but contested step in addressing accusations that have dogged the agency since the October 7, 2023 attacks, while UNRWA insists the dismissals are not an admission of guilt.
China's Tungsten Export Controls Ripple Through Global Supply Chains, From AI Chips to Weapons
China's 2025 export restrictions on tungsten have triggered price surges, potential production halts at Japanese semiconductor gas manufacturers, and a push to revive domestic mining in the United States. Tungsten, of which China produces over 78 percent of global supply, is critical to both advanced AI chipmaking and military munitions. The disruptions are exposing deep vulnerabilities in Western and Asian supply chains for a material with few short-term substitutes.
Rain Delays Start of India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI in Dharamshala
Persistent drizzle has delayed the toss and cast doubt over the first ODI between India and Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The meteorological department issued an orange alert for June 12 warning of thunderstorms and hail across parts of Himachal Pradesh, with a 60–70% chance of showers forecast throughout the day. The delay threatens what would have been a historically significant match — the first-ever bilateral ODI series between the two nations.