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 through the Northern Ireland land border over the past three years, rather than through official ports and airports. The Common Travel Area (CTA) between Ireland and the UK, which allows free movement without border checks, has come under scrutiny following a knife attack in Belfast allegedly committed by a Sudanese refugee who entered via this route. The issue highlights tensions over immigration policy and border security between Ireland and the UK post-Brexit.
According to Irish government figures, approximately 90% of asylum seekers applying for protection in Ireland made their first application in person at the International Protection Office in Dublin rather than at airports or ports, suggesting they entered via the open land border with Northern Ireland. The Common Travel Area, established before Brexit, permits unrestricted movement between Ireland and the UK without physical border checks. The UK Home Office reported apprehending over 900 "immigration offenders" abusing the border in the past year. The issue gained prominence after a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee, Hadi Alodid, allegedly committed a knife attack in Belfast and was found to have traveled from Sudan through Paris and Dublin before claiming asylum in Northern Ireland in 2023. Irish and UK governments are discussing reviving a post-Brexit returns agreement to send asylum seekers back across the border, though previous attempts have been stalled by legal challenges regarding the UK's asylum policies.
What different sources said
- The GuardianLeft
Up to 90% of Ireland’s asylum seekers may have entered from Northern Ireland, data shows
Up to 90% of Ireland’s asylum seekers may have entered from Northern Ireland, data shows
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