Nearly 1,000 illegal migrants removed from Northern Ireland in past year

Immigration enforcement activity in Northern Ireland has increased significantly over the past two years, according to information provided by a Government source, which says arrests for immigration offences have risen by 30% and nearly 1,000 illegal migrants have been removed during the past year.

The figures emerge as immigration, border security and the movement of people through the Common Travel Area have become central issues in political debate following recent unrest in parts of Northern Ireland and the attempted murder investigation in north Belfast.

According to information provided by a Government source, ministers are investing £3.7 billion into Immigration Enforcement activity over the next three years, including operations affecting Northern Ireland, with enforcement spending expected to increase by more than 20% by 2028/29.

The source said this will support increased intelligence-led activity by Immigration Enforcement and Border Force aimed at detecting, detaining, arresting and removing people who are in the United Kingdom illegally.

Arrests and enforcement activity rising

Figures provided by the Government source indicate immigration enforcement operations in Northern Ireland have increased by 16% since July 2024.

According to the figures, there were 2,682 immigration enforcement operations during the current administration compared with 2,312 during the final 21 months of the previous Government.

The source also said the number of people detained or arrested for immigration offences had increased by almost 30%, rising from 1,736 during the previous period to 2,233 under the current administration.

Nearly 1,000 illegal migrants have been removed during the last year alone, according to the information supplied to media organisations.

The figures also indicate that the number of asylum seekers living in supported accommodation in Northern Ireland has fallen by 6%, from 2,530 in June 2024 to 2,379 in March 2026.

Focus on Common Travel Area routes

A significant proportion of enforcement activity is focused on the Common Travel Area, which allows British and Irish citizens to move freely between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

According to the Government source, around 70% of Immigration Enforcement activity in Northern Ireland is directed towards Operation Gull, an intelligence-led operation targeting immigration offenders using domestic air and sea routes.

The source said Operation Gull detected more than 900 immigration offenders during the past year who were abusing or attempting to circumvent Common Travel Area travel arrangements.

The most frequently encountered nationalities were reported as Romanian, Albanian and Afghan.

The briefing also highlighted Operation Comby, a multi-agency operation targeting organised immigration crime and abuse of Common Travel Area routes.

According to the Government source, since the 2024 General Election the operation has led to the arrest of 250 organised criminals and immigration offenders, alongside the seizure of more than £435,000 in criminal cash.

The source further stated that enforcement intensifications involve officers providing 24-hour coverage across airports, seaports, roads and rail networks, while Live Facial Recognition technology is being used to identify individuals wanted by immigration authorities and people subject to deportation orders.

Figures emerge amid growing political pressure

The information comes as immigration policy and border enforcement continue to dominate political debate in Northern Ireland.

TUV leader Jim Allister has accused both the Northern Ireland Office and the Home Office of failing to adequately address what he describes as loopholes within the Common Travel Area.

In a statement issued this week, the North Antrim MP said:

“Failure to impose any checks has been, and continues to be, a fundamental dereliction by the NIO and Home Office. Acting to correct this is the starting point for getting a grip on an out of control situation.”

Mr Allister also called on authorities in the Republic of Ireland to answer questions regarding the immigration status of a Sudanese national linked to the ongoing north Belfast attempted murder investigation.

He argued that the Common Travel Area applies only to those who are legally present within the British Isles and claimed that Northern Ireland has been left vulnerable to abuse of the system due to the absence of reciprocal immigration checks.

Public concern and political divisions

Separately, TUV deputy leader and Court councillor Ron McDowell said public frustration over immigration policy was contributing to a growing disconnect between communities and political leaders.

Reflecting on recent protests, Mr McDowell claimed many people no longer believe their concerns are being heard by mainstream politicians and warned that continued public dissatisfaction risks creating further instability.

Gaston: ‘The immigration debate can no longer be shut down’

Immigration moved to the centre of Stormont debate on Tuesday, June 9, when North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston used a Matter of the Day in the Assembly to argue that the attempted murder investigation in north Belfast had exposed deeper concerns about immigration, public safety and border controls.

The TUV MLA said he had been criticised the previous day for raising concerns about immigration and its impact on working-class communities, but argued that subsequent events had changed the political landscape.

Addressing the Assembly, Mr Gaston said:

“In the Chamber yesterday, I was ridiculed by the self-righteous MLAs to my left, including the Justice Minister, for daring to highlight issues around immigration and the impact that it has on working-class communities.”

He continued:

“Last night’s events cannot be divorced from the immigration debate, and anyone who attempts to do so is gaslighting our communities.”

Mr Gaston told MLAs that the issues raised by the case should no longer be considered beyond political scrutiny, stating:

“The issues that the case raises need no longer be off limits to the Chamber and the Committees of the House.”

Arguing that public safety must remain the primary responsibility of government, he said:

“The most basic duty of government is the defence of its citizens. People need to know that they are safe to walk the streets without fear or danger of someone attacking them.”

The North Antrim MLA also claimed that attempts to shut down discussion of immigration were damaging public confidence and preventing meaningful debate around policy and enforcement.

In one of the strongest passages of his speech, Mr Gaston said:

“Those who attempt to shut down discussion of those issues are not liberal. They are not standing up for the marginalised and oppressed in our communities. Advocating them is, positively, a danger to our communities in Northern Ireland.”

He concluded by calling for tougher action from Westminster, telling the Assembly:

“It is time to close our borders, it is time to stop the boats and it is time that the House faced up to the realities. It is time that the British Government took a stand and did the right thing for the people of the United Kingdom.”

The intervention was one of the most forceful contributions during Tuesday’s debate and highlighted the increasingly prominent role immigration policy is playing in political discussions across Northern Ireland following recent unrest and the ongoing public debate surrounding the Common Travel Area and border enforcement.

Enforcement measures likely to face increased scrutiny

While significant political disagreement remains over immigration policy, the figures provided by the Government source suggest enforcement activity across Northern Ireland has increased substantially since 2024.

Supporters of tougher border controls argue the figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge facing authorities, while others contend they show enforcement agencies are already taking extensive action against illegal immigration and organised immigration crime.

With immigration now firmly at the centre of public and political debate, questions surrounding border security, Common Travel Area enforcement and the effectiveness of existing measures are likely to remain under intense scrutiny in the weeks and months ahead.