A Deportation Order Is Not the End of the Road - What every migrant should know about legal exit, safe return, and starting again
📅 By Dr. Yinka Dixon, PhD (Hon.)
📍 New Beginnings Impact Network | Educator | Migrant Mentor
INTRODUCTION – Why This Matters Now
This week, I read a heartbreaking report:
"Five children were among 35 Nigerians deported from Ireland to Lagos on a chartered flight."
📎 Irish Times – June 5, 2025
So, yesterday, 6 June 2025, there were five children in the group of 35 Nigerians that were deported to Lagos.
My family was once issued a Deportation Order from the UK due to a lawyer's error.
We chose to return to Nigeria under the Voluntary Departure provision. The sudden change was very traumatic for my family. The first thing was to get a source of income. I got a job first and worked as PA (twice in different companies), and later, in the visa section of one of the top embassies in Lagos. A good chunk of the period was great, but everyone did not settle properly, emotionally, and that made it really tough.
Fast Forwards, a few years later, we secured Work Permits for Ireland for the whole family, and have eventually settled. The journey was long, and the road was bumpy, but here we are. BUT, WHAT exactly is a Deportation Order and How can we support those who have to go through it?
💡 Sometimes walking away is how you walk back stronger.
Too many migrants are still unaware of their legal options. So today, I share my own story - a story of deportation, voluntary departure, and legal return. This is not just about me.
This is about what’s possible when you act with knowledge, courage, and dignity.
MY STORY – We Were Once Issued a Deportation Order
In the 1990s, my family received a deportation order in the UK due to a legal error. We were unaware that my husband’s application had been refused, and that his refusal had been merged with my Commonwealth citizenship, to give us all, the "Refused" status.
After a minor home incident involving a disgruntled visitor, the police arrived and informed us of our immigration status. At the station, we were told to choose:
✅ Deportation
✅ Voluntary Departure
We chose to leave. We would have been within our rights to appeal.
With help from Pastor Paul JInadu, his wife and the church (New Covenant Church) lawyer, we applied for Travel Certificates and informed immigration of our departure details.
Nobody harassed us. Nobody followed up. We left with our dignity intact.
What I Did While Back Home — The Truth About Starting Again
When we returned to Nigeria after choosing voluntary departure, it wasn’t easy. But I refused to sit still or give up. I knew that I had skills, experience, and connections — and I decided to use them wisely.
The first thing I did was look for some of my old contacts and mentors. I reached out. I asked questions. I showed up where opportunities were. Before long, I started working as a Personal Assistant at Nicks Nigeria, which opened doors to other roles.
From there, I was hired by a well-known engineering entrepreneur - who would later become a state governor. Working alongside someone like that showed me what foresight, strategy, and resilience look like in real life.
Later, I got the chance to work in the visa section of a major embassy in Victoria Island, Lagos. That role reconnected me to the world of international mobility, legal migration, and access to global opportunities.
That season of my life taught me this:
If you return home, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
it means you are being repositioned.
In 1999, we returned to Ireland, legally - with a work visa and 3 dependent visas. We rebuilt our lives again.
THE PROBLEM – What Migrants Are Facing Today
Migrants today live under enormous pressure:
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Fear of deportation
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Shame of being “sent home”
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No legal knowledge
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No money for solicitors
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Exploitation at work
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Emotional trauma for families and children
But what is the biggest problem?
The biggest problem is that too many people are silent.
THE FACTS – What Is a Deportation Order?
A Deportation Order is a formal instruction to leave the country. It can follow:
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Visa refusal
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Asylum rejection
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Immigration breaches
⚠️ Ignoring a Deportation Order leads to:
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Forced removal
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Detention
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Loss of future visa eligibility
THE OPTIONS – Even If You Have No Money
1. Appeal the Order (Legal Support Needed)
Ask for help from Citizens Information or immigrant support groups.
2. Voluntary Departure
Like we did. You leave on your terms - and protect your future.
3. Humanitarian Grounds
Some people can qualify for regularisation based on family ties, long stay, or medical reasons.
FREE HELP – Where to Go
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FLAC.ie – Free Legal Aid Centres
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Irish Refugee Council – Independent Law Centre
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Local churches, mosques, migrant community networks
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NGOs like NCP, Crosscare, Nasc Ireland
WHY VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE MAKES SENSE
It’s not failure.
It’s a reset.
We did it - and we came back legally. You can too.
TO OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY – Let’s Wake Up
Years ago, while living in Bray, Dundalk, and Dublin, I taught civic integration, coping strategies, citizenship studies, racism resilience, and visa interview skills — all free of charge. I did it because I saw the fear, the shame, and the silence in too many migrant faces.
But let me say this clearly:
👉🏾 The migrant community can and must do more.
Let’s help each other. Let’s talk. Let’s stop pretending.
Too many people are suffering in silence — afraid to speak up because of what others might say.
But here's the truth:
People who want to gossip about you already have their own battles. And even if they talk, it won’t be forever. They’ll move on to someone else soon enough.
They might talk about you for two months...
But in those same two months, you could find a solution, rebuild your life, and start again — while they’re still busy talking.
So, don't let fear of gossip keep you stuck in shadows.
Speak up. Ask for help. Share your truth.
You’re not alone — and you deserve a legal, peaceful, and fulfilling life.
FINAL WORD – A New Beginning Is Still Possible
You don’t have to live in fear.
You don’t have to stay silent.
You don’t have to run.
There’s a better way. And a better ending.
✍️ Dr. Yinka Dixon, PhD (Hon.), CIPM, MPM, PME
Founder, New Beginnings Impact Network
Author | Educator | Advocate for Legal & Safe Migration
#VoluntaryDeparture #DeportationTruth #NewBeginnings #LegalMigration #MigrantVoices #DontHide #SafeExit
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