Britain has accepted 50 failed asylum seekers from Ireland despite Rishi Sunak insisting the country would refuse migrants following an influx in Dublin.
In April, the Prime Minister rejected calls to take back migrants after Ireland warned that up to 90 per cent of asylum seekers had fled Northern Ireland amid fears of being sent to Rwanda.
Official figures show that 50 illegal migrants were arrested during two, four-day operations between October and February when Irish police stopped buses travelling from Belfast to Dublin.
The migrants - including three children - were returned by ferry to Holyhead or via train to Belfast.
Britain has accepted 50 failed asylum seekers from Ireland despite Rishi Sunak insisting the country would refuse migrants following an influx in DublinGetty/ PATwo people were later charged with illegally facilitating entry into the UK.
In March, returns were halted after the Irish High Court ruled that the Ministry of Justice had exceeded its powers in designating the UK a safe country after Brexit.
Legislation is being prepared by the Irish government to reverse the ban on returns.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has urged Sunak to abide by the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area returns agreement.
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However, the Prime Minister hit back saying the post-Brexit arrangement was not legally binding.
Ireland's plan to send 100 extra police to areas close to the border which was kept open by the Brexit treaty, has sparked concerns.
In response to the ongoing row, Britain has suggested that Ireland should join the Rwanda plan.
Harris' Government is reportedly considering more restrictions on benefits for refugees in a bid to reduce the numbers arriving.
Harris' Government is reportedly considering more restrictions on benefits for refugees in a bid to reduce the numbers arriving
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More than 6,000 people applied for asylum in Ireland by April 12 this year alone.
The country is already struggling with a housing crisis and has accepted 104,000 Ukrainian refugees since Russia's invasion.
If the high rate of migrants arriving continues, Ireland will have a record number of more than 20,000 asylum claims by the end of 2024.
