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Written question asked by Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.

Undocumented Migrants: Northern Ireland

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants were removed from Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; of those, which ten (1) nationalities, and (2) countries, were most involved; and of the 1,000 people removed in 2025 who, according to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in an interview with GB News on 11 June "had no right to be here", how many were confirmed as leaving the United Kingdom, and what means are normally employed to effect such departures.

Answer

Between 1 July 2024 and 31 May 2026, Immigration Enforcement conducted 2,913 enforcement visits in Northern Ireland resulting in 2,425 arrests, with nearly 1,000 (963) people subsequently returned, almost 500 (493) of whom had a destination of Ireland.

There is published transparency data relating to enforcement activity in Northern Ireland here - Northern Ireland enforcement activity between 1 October 2022 and 31 May 2026 - GOV.UK. Returns from the UK include both voluntary and enforced returns.

More detailed information on removals from Northern Ireland, including nationalities and countries involved, is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1483
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Deportation Undocumented migrants Northern Ireland
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk