Residents Against Racism yesterday staged a protest outside the Progressive Democrats party's headquarters in Dublin, calling for the return of asylum seekers deported to Nigeria last month.
The group called on the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to change his mind and bring them all back.
"Many communities around Ireland are still suffering from the loss of friends who were deported. Campaigns have begun all across the country for the return of those deported and these communities are preparing for a long campaign," spokeswoman Rosanna Flynn said.
She said the recent deportations have called the entire asylum system into question. "We are demanding a stop to all deportations and a right to stay and work for those currently in the system."
She said they are also calling for an independent inquiry into past deportations. The asylum process should be removed from the remit of the Department of Justice to a body such as the Human Rights Commission so it would not be "at the whim of a politician", Ms Flynn added.