Northern Ireland enforcement activity between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026
Updated 8 October 2026
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This note provides statistics relating to Immigration Enforcement’s activity in Northern Ireland. It is intended to provide the public with clear and timely information in an area of high public interest.
Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026, Immigration Enforcement conducted 3,037 enforcement visits in Northern Ireland resulting in 2,482 arrests, with 994 people subsequently returned, 515 with a destination of Ireland. This is an 18% increase on the 2,569 enforcement visits and a 38% increase on the 1,803 arrests during the 2-year period immediately prior (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024).
Table 1
| 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2026 | 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024 | Percentage change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enforcement visits | 3,037 | 2,569 | 18% |
| of which: Arrests | 2,482 | 1,803 | 38% |
| Subsequently returned | 994 | 936 | 6% |
| of which: destination of Ireland | 515 | 509 | 1% |
Notes
The data and statistics contained within this notice are provisional and were taken from live operational systems on 22 September 2026. As a result, data may differ from previously published numbers and are subject to further revision and change. This may occur due to open records being updated and closed, or because of regular data quality and assurance exercises being undertaken.
The activity included in this release covers all enforcement visits conducted in Northern Ireland therefore will not align with figures reported in previous releases within Returns from the UK and enforcement activity.
The return types included in the above ‘returns’ are ‘enforced’, ‘voluntary’ and ‘port’, the Home Office publishes comprehensive statistics on immigration enforcement activity, including the number of returns, in its immigration system statistics quarterly release, please see this release for a more detailed description of return types.