Departmental Data

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Ceisteanna (270, 277, 278)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

270. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number Irish citizens his Department is aware of that have been detained by ICE in the US. [12230/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

277. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in light of reports that up to six Irish citizens have been detained in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities for periods of up to five months, and in view of the Taoiseach’s statement in Dáil Éireann that she became aware of one such case only following media reports, if she will address a number of related issues (details supplied) [12422/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

278. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the list of Irish citizens currently detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency of the United States, in ammonised form; when their detention was first brought to the attention of the State whether through consular assistance or other contact with her Department or other agencies of the State; if she or her officials are aware of the location of each person, ammonised , in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12505/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 277 and 278 together.

Providing consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad is a cornerstone of the work of my department. Ensuring our citizens receive timely and empathetic support from our Embassies and Consulates worldwide is a priority for me in my role as Minister. Demand for consular assistance worldwide has grown steadily in recent years, with 1,981 new cases recorded by our teams in 2025 - with 205 new cases recorded in the United States alone.

I can confirm that the number of citizens who have requested assistance in relation to deportation from the United States of America in 2025 was 65. This includes both those who have already been deported and those who are still going through the deportation process, which may include being held in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is important to note that this figure only relates to cases where a citizen or their family has requested assistance and does not necessarily reflect all deportations to Ireland or all cases of detention by ICE.

The assistance my Department provides on a deportation, like with any other case, will depend on the individual circumstances of that case. Assistance can include, for example, facilitating communication between the citizen and their family, engaging with the relevant local and national authorities, providing a list of lawyers, or sharing information on the deportation process with family members. This is not an exhaustive list and each case is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Consular assistance is provided at the request of the citizen who have an expectation and entitlement to privacy in relation to their cases. For this reason, details of consular cases, are not shared with anyone other than the designated point of contact or next of kin, or Departmental consular officials as appropriate.

My Department, through our Consular officials in HQ and across our mission network deal with almost 2,000 new consular cases a year. These officials are trained and experienced in the delivery of consular assistance, and where escalation is required, including to my office and that of the Taoiseach, this is done so on the basis of the particular circumstances of the case, the type of assistance that is required and on the basis of the consent of the citizen.

This escalation can take many forms and is dependent on the nature and circumstances of the consular case.

Our diplomatic network across the US also works closely with a number of partner organisations and immigration centres supporting Irish immigrants to the US. These organisations are provided with support under the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme. Last year, the Government provided over €4.5 million to Irish organisations in the United States, including for the provision of immigration advice, in the form of trusted information, legal resources and support for those seeking to regularise their immigration status.

I want to reassure the Deputy that my officials stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad.