At least two Nigerian women pregnant to Irishmen are among up to 70 people set for deportation tonight, Residents Against Racism (RAR) claimed this afternoon.
There have been several operations by gardaí in various parts of the State over the past two weeks; last Sunday 20 Nigerian were detained in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, and brought to Cloverhill Prison.
A number of recently detained women were held at Mountjoy Prison, and several other people were told to report to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) today.
It is understood there are plans to deport Nigerian nationals tonight and RAR believes the figure is between 40 and 70.
Spokesman Mark Grehan said at least four pregnant women are threatened with deportation, two of whom are pregnant to Irish citizens.
"These men want to take part in their children's lives. One of them has been living with his partner for a year and she is four months pregnant," Mr Grehan told ireland.com. He said the other women were between three and six months pregnant.
RAR has in the past expressed concern that deportations were about to take place -which did not take place.
The Garda Press Office says it has no knowledge of deportations this evening, but the arrests in the past weeks and the instruction for several Nigerians to report to Garda stations and the GNIB headquarters today has aroused particular concern.
Some people have been brought to their homes to collect their belongings and one pregnant woman was told by GNIB authorities that she would be leaving the country tonight if she could not obtain a court injunction, RAR spokeswoman Rosanna Flynn said.
Some people may be brought to Dublin airport direct from; others may be held at St Margaret’s detention centre in Finglas until nearer the time of the flight.