Campaign group Residents Against Racism today insisted Ireland must open its doors to refugees, and give asylum seekers the right to stay and work in the country.
The day after a deported Nigerian student was allowed back to Ireland to complete school exams, anti-racism campaigners called for all deportees to be given a second chance.
Mark Grehan, spokesman for Residents Against Racism, said if people were willing to stand up against unjustified deportations the Government would be forced into action.
"I think it symbolises that if the community or school rallies around then the Department and the Minster has no choice but to act," he said. "It's not just fighting against racism but it's fighting against the way the system is set up.
"We are up against the State, while we are confident of change we are realistic. We realise that it's going to be a long fight and we are in for the long haul."
Residents Against Racism marched through Dublin city centre to the Garda National Immigration Bureau to protest over deportation.
Deported Nigerian Olukunle Elukanlo (20), returned to Dublin yesterday in order to complete his Leaving Certificate exams in June at his school, Palmerstown Community College. He was deported to Nigeria two weeks ago, in his school uniform, along with a group of 34 other Nigerians.
In an unprecedented move, following huge public outcry, Minster for Justice Michael McDowell said the student was never meant to be deported before taking his Leaving Certificate, and reversed his decision.
Mr Grehan said he felt that Nigerians and Romanians who came to Ireland seeking asylum were at greater risk of deportation than other nationalities. And he called on the Government to take steps to create a fair and balanced immigration policy, ending the scandal of deportations.
The group called for asylum seekers to have the right to work in Ireland, and the right to remain in the country without fear of a return to their homelands. They demanded an immediate end to all deportations and for an independent inquiry to be set up to review past deportation cases.