Northern Ireland enforcement activity between 1 October 2022 and 31 May 2026
Updated 18 June 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 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 which had a destination of Ireland.
Between 1 July 2024 and 31 March 2026, Immigration Enforcement conducted 2,682 enforcement visits in Northern Ireland resulting in 2,233 arrests, with 891 people subsequently returned. This is a 16% increase on the 2,312 enforcement visits and a 29% increase on the 1,736 arrests during the 21-month period immediately prior (1 October 2022 to 30 June 2024).
In the financial year 2025 to 2026, Immigration Enforcement conducted 1,561 enforcement visits throughout Northern Ireland, resulting in the arrest of 1,284 suspected immigration offenders (of which 934 were Operation Gull detections of immigration offenders abusing and circumventing the CTA routes), with 465 people subsequently returned.
Table 1
| Date of enforcement activity | Enforcement visits | of which; Arrests | Subsequently returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22 to Jun 24 | 2,312 | 1,736 | 898 |
| Jul 24 to Mar 26 | 2,682 | 2,233 | 891 |
| Jul 24 to May 26 | 2,913 | 2,425 | 963 |
| Apr 25 to Mar 26 | 1,561 | 1,284 | 465 |
Notes
The data and statistics contained within this notice are provisional and were taken from live operational systems on 10 June 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 - GOV.UK.
Operation Gull is an intelligence led Common Travel Area safeguarding operation at Northern Ireland’s domestic air and seaports.
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.