DUBLIN, Ireland - Gardaí have deported 42 Brazilian nationals and secured a further 62 voluntary returns during a targeted two-month operation focused on individuals subject to deportation orders.

The operation, led by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), took place between June 1 and July 31, 2025. It involved close cooperation with the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service, and included a series of operational searches and targeted actions.

Of the 42 individuals removed by enforcement, 15 were serving custodial sentences at the time. An additional 62 Brazilian nationals left the State through the Voluntary Return process, under which individuals agree to leave in lieu of a formal deportation.

The operation, details of which were revealed on Friday, appears to have had a significant deterrent effect. Authorities noted a major increase in engagement with the Voluntary Return system, with nearly 100 new applicants coming forward since the operation began.

The GNIB also confirmed that a large number of people recorded as holding valid deportation orders are no longer in the State and are believed to have already returned to Brazil. The bureau stated it is continuing enquiries to establish the whereabouts of these individuals.

Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock, Head of the GNIB, said the operation demonstrates the force's "ongoing commitment to remove persons who are illegal in the State."

"This operation follows on other recent operations where persons illegal in the state were subject of deportation on charter flights," DCS Minnock said Friday. "The GNIB will continue this work, engaging with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that persons subject of immigration requirements are compliant and removed from the state where necessary."

The operation highlights the ongoing focus by Irish authorities on enforcing immigration laws and removing those who are in the country illegally.