Deportation of failed asylum seekers expected

Gardaí are expected to proceed with a mass deportation to Nigeria of failed asylum seekers this evening.

The Residents Against Racism group said a  number of people were arrested at their homes this morning in order to facilitate their deportation.

Rosanna Flynn, spokesperson for the group, said many of those facing deportation were minors and included young girls who have fled Nigeria for fear of having female genital mutilation performed upon them.

She added that many of those due for deportation tonight are minors who arrived in Ireland unaccompanied and are now facing deportation to a country where they have no-one. "McDowell begins his festive season with a deportation to Nigeria. No room at the Inn is a thought that is obviously very close to his heart," she said.

Ms Flynn called for the asylum process to be placed under the remit of a body such as the Human Rights Commission, where she said human rights would be "respected."

She said "The asylum system as it stands is a complete shambles, it is not transparent, the decisions appear to be made completely randomly, and the focus is on deporting as many people as possible rather than on respecting the human rights and safety of asylum seekers."