The Irish government is considering whether to revoke the passport of anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson. Born in England, Robinson holds Irish citizenship through his Irish-born mother. However, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is reviewing his passport status following his arrest in Canada for alleged immigration violations.
Canadian officials recorded Robinson’s country of citizenship as Ireland on an immigration form rather than Britain, presumably because he chose to travel under his Irish passport. Under the Passports Act, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) Micheál Martin, can cancel a passport if the holder’s actions threaten national security, public safety, or violate the common good.
Its removal would complicate Robinson’s ability to move freely through the European Union (EU), of which Ireland is a member. Since 2020, he has reportedly spent some time living in Spain, another EU member, explaining that his family has become unsafe in Britain.
Robinson, who has previously displayed his Irish passport on social media, was briefly detained by Canadian authorities in Alberta in June before having his passport returned. At the time, Robinson was engaged in a speaking tour across Canada.
He also recently traveled to Ireland to document protests against mass migration in Ireland, which has received large numbers of asylum seekers in recent months. Robinson is considered a central figure in the recent anti-mass migration protests in the UK following the fatal stabbing of three young girls, allegedly by a teenager with an African migration background, by the British state. However, Robinson did not participate in them directly, and he discouraged rioting.
