Up to 90% of Ireland’s asylum seekers may have entered from Northern Ireland, data shows
Summary
Most asylum seekers entering Ireland over the past three years have come through the land border from Northern Ireland. The Irish and UK governments are working together to manage this issue, as the open border allows people to move freely, making it hard to track and control asylum claims.Key Facts
- Up to 90% of people seeking asylum in Ireland entered through the land border with Northern Ireland.
- In the past year, the UK Home Office caught over 900 people crossing the border illegally for immigration reasons.
- Between 2022 and 2024, asylum applications in Ireland rose to 18,500, much higher than before 2019.
- Most asylum seekers (about 90%) apply in person at the International Protection Office in Dublin rather than at airports or ports.
- Irish data shows many asylum seekers travel from Great Britain to Ireland before crossing into Northern Ireland.
- A recent knife attack in Belfast involved a refugee who travelled via Paris and Dublin before claiming asylum in Northern Ireland.
- Both governments are discussing ways to improve border checks and revive a post-Brexit agreement to return asylum seekers between Ireland and the UK.
- Political leaders in Ireland and Northern Ireland agree that cross-border cooperation is important to protect the common travel area.
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