ICE Detain the Irish (The American Dream Nightmare..)

Seamus Culleton exists in two places - his wife's memory and a detention centre in Texas.

Tiffany Smyth had a handful of photographs to show me, illustrating their life together. Sunbathing on a beach, posing with their two dogs, celebrating their engagement with radiant smiles.

But the hope illustrated in those snapshots was snatched away one afternoon five months ago.

Seamus, 38, was at a building supplies store in Boston when ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents detained him.

Via Buffalo, New York, he eventually ended up at Camp East Montana, El Paso, Texas.

He has described it "like a modern-day concentration camp… horrible and filthy."

Housed with 70 other detainees in one tent, he said he feared for his own life. It was striking to hear his Irish accent on the phoneline from there.

"If it can happen to me… it can kind of happen to anyone," he told me.

Seamus says he was living a 'normal life' in America

Living in the US for nearly 18 years, he had, in his words, "lived a normal life".

"Just working hard, staying out of trouble, I wasn't a big party guy, just spending time with my wife and my dogs," he said.

Tiffany recalled the moment her husband phoned her to say he had been detained.

"He says ICE picked him up, and I had a million questions… where are they taking you?

"And he said, no, they're not telling me anything. I'll call you when I can, and then the phone hung up. I didn't hear from him for four or five days," she said.

Fighting through the tears, she described his situation as "hard to believe".

Minneapolis shootings: What is ICE?

The deployment of ICE agents has sparked protests in US cities. Pics: Reuters

Image:

The deployment of ICE agents has sparked protests in US cities. Pics: Reuters

A native of Kilkenny, he arrived in the US in 2009 and overstayed the 90 days of his visa waiver.

But he later married an American, giving him the right to seek a change of status. He had obtained a work permit and was one appointment away from securing a green card.

The Department of Homeland Security describes Seamus Culleton as "an illegal alien from Ireland".

In a statement, it said a green card application and work permit did not grant someone legal status to be in the United States and rejected claims he was being held in high-risk conditions.

'Deplorable' conditions

But his lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, said: "Conditions are deplorable, unimaginable, inhumane, not conducive for even the most atrocious of criminals."

ICE is currently holding around 70,000 people and 74% of them have no criminal conviction, according to recent data.

Donald Trump pledged the greatest mass deportation in US history, to remove seasoned criminals, "the worst of the worst" in his words

"Seamus is not the worst of the worst," said his lawyer. "He's the best of what this country's all about, immigrants coming in and making a difference."

And despite the current nightmare he is living, he refuses to give up on his American dream.

"The picture in my mind, if I got released, would be just my wife waiting for me with her arms open... and giving her a kiss.

"It's been so long since I've seen her," he told me.

Yeah this is doing the news rounds here in Ireland. Government here reckons about 5-6 Irish Citizens are currently detained by ICE. I'm sure there is plenty of other people of different nationalities going through the same.

They are saying the ICE detention centres are not a good craic.

Imagine going to the football World Cup, and there is some screw-up with checking the holiday visas, and getting put in the ICE detention centre..

He came to the USA on a 90 day visit visa and than decided to stay on without legal autho4ization.

Geting a work permit is not meaning he has legal wuthorityt o9s tay in the USA, He remained illegally in the uSA and that is what the real situation is. We all know the Open Border policy of the Autopen allowed people tos tay in the USA illegally and millions of work permmis ws issued by he same BSters,

Why did he not apply for a permanent stay in the USA? What made him not apply for legal residence, The reason is likely involvement in sonme criminal history of the past,

He ahs the right to apply to the Courts for revue of his case - but there is no sign that he did. So he is bound to end up going to Ireland soon - that is if they wil have him.

Most of the detainees by ICE has bad criminal reords in the USA and had court deportation rulings that the Biden Administration refiused to execute. Wa that the case with Seamus as well.

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They are saying the ICE detention centres are not a good craic.

No the Guinness is served flat without a proper head.

Imagine going to the football World Cup, and there is some screw-up with checking the holiday visas, and getting put in the ICE detention centre..

Oh it will happen to at least a few people. That's assuming Trump doesn't return to his Greenland antics and a host of European nations don't end up boycotting it.

And yet the only objective measure, fatalities, shows detainees are safer in an ICE detention center than a European prison.

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DumbMike, This person was in Ireland before Obama was even president, never mind Biden

And yet the only objective measure, fatalities, shows detainees are safer in an ICE detention center than a European prison

LOL he's off again.

He overstayed a 90 day visa for years. No wonder he was arrested.

He had more than 18 years to fix the paperwork, didn't bother, got caught breaking the laws, but now he's somehow the victim ... unbelievable. Actions have consequences...time for people to grow up and take responsibility for their choices...how is this a bad thing?

Bob, what will happen in NZ when someone overstay their visa?...Denny in Aus?...hell, Novak got booted for not being vaxed after entering legally...laws and rules are not bad things

Ah so despite being married to an American, owning a company and paying his taxes, having no criminal record for even a minor offense, having a valid work permit and being in the process of obtaining a green card, he deserved to be moved 4,000 miles away from where he was living thrown into a room with 71 other people , where toilet and washing facilities are rarely cleaned, where he's be allowed outside less than 10 times in 5 months, in a facility that provides so little food that fights break out among the inmates and he's forced to service on child portions and there have cases of guards killing inmates.

Actions have consequences, so you agree there should be consequences for ICE not releasing him after a judge ordered it?

"Actions have consequences, so you agree there should be consequences for ICE not realising him after a judge ordered it?"

There will be.

"Ah so despite being married to an American, owning a company and paying his taxes, having no criminal record for even a minor offense, having a valid work permit and being in the process of obtaining a green card.

If all that is true, the consequences for ICE will be severe...but I suspect some significant slanting of the facts in this case....it doesn't take 19 years to get a green card if you're married to a US citizen... obviously the inconvenient facts are omitted here

No those are the facts, I've no idea why he took so long to apply green card.

According to co-pilot when asked why he may have taken so long to apply for a green card the following answers were suggested.

1. He entered on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

If he originally entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, that creates a major legal complication:

1. VWP entrants cannot normally adjust status inside the U.S.
2. Even marriage to a U.S. citizen doesn’t automatically fix this.
3. If he overstayed, he became immediately removable with no right to a hearing.

Many people in this situation avoid applying because they fear triggering enforcement.

2. Fear of deportation during the process

Applying for a green card requires:

1. fingerprints
2. background checks
3. interviews
4. mailing forms with your address

For someone who overstayed, this can feel like handing ICE your location. It’s extremely common for people to delay for years because they fear being detained mid?process.

3. Marriage?based cases can be messy

Even if he married a U.S. citizen:

1. The marriage must be documented
2. Joint financial evidence must be provided
3. Prior overstays or entries must be disclosed
4. Any previous immigration violations complicate the case

If the relationship had periods of separation, financial instability, or incomplete paperwork, that can delay filing for years.

4. Legal advice is expensive — and often contradictory

Immigration lawyers in the U.S. routinely charge:

1. $3,000–$8,000 for a marriage?based green card
2. More if there are complications (like VWP overstays)

Many immigrants delay filing because they simply cannot afford the legal fees or are unsure which lawyer to trust.

5. He may have believed his work permit was enough

Culleton reportedly had a valid work permit at one point. For many immigrants, having:

1. a work permit
2. a Social Security number
3. a long?term job

creates a sense of stability that makes the green card process feel less urgent.

But a work permit does not protect someone from deportation.

1. "If he overstayed, he became immediately removable with no right to a hearing"

Many people in this situation avoid applying because they fear triggering enforcement.

There you go....choices...

Is this what you want, everyone who legally can be deported gets deported no exceptions, no matter if they were about to obtain legal status, no matter if they were contributing positively to American society, and you also don't care about the manner in which the process is carried out?

Many people in this situation avoid applying because they fear triggering enforcement.

I love it, follow the legal process and one arm of the government will process your legal request to stay while the other arm of the government deports you because in the act of applying for legal status you notified them of them of your illegal status.

Any Americans in the West without a visa should be rounded up and put in a concentration camp.

Would it not have just been easier to deport him? If he's illegal, just send him home.

Apparently they tried to force him to agree to be deported but he refused. From my understanding that would of prevented him from returning to the US for 10 years.

As for why it was done in the 5 months since he was detained, could be a number of reasons, he might have filled an appeal, returns to Ireland being flagged a low priority by ice, backlogs in the deportation process, awaiting on Irish authorities to verify his identity and issue relevant travel documents. Likely some combination of all of the above.

the next NoKings will be enormousIrish national Seamus Culleton is seen in a photo posted on his Facebook account in August 2024.

"Is this what you want, everyone who legally can be deported gets deported no exceptions, no matter if they were about to obtain legal status, no matter if they were contributing positively to American society, and you also don't care about the manner in which the process is carried out?"

You abide by the laws of your host...19 years...this isn't a poor victim... he's getting the harsh end of a system that had enough of being exploited...like I said, this has been slanted to fit a narrative, I suspect some of the facts are conveniently left out ...

Of coarse I have compassion for him and his situation, but he is not totally innocent in all of this...

Seamus, 38, was at a building supplies store in Boston when ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents detained him.

Living in the US for nearly 18 years, he had, in his words, "lived a normal life".

A native of Kilkenny, he arrived in the US in 2009 and overstayed the 90 days of his visa waiver.

But he later married an American, giving him the right to seek a change of status. He had obtained a work permit and was one appointment away from securing a green card.

……

So this guy has been illegal for 18 years. He literally had 18 years and benign governments to sort out his status. But continued to break the law and hope things will turn out for the best. His only attempt came after he married an American girl.

As for him not agreeing to be deported, a woman working for me faced the same scenario and left. She expects to be back well within the year. Thousands of others have agreed to leave to normalize their status. Why should this particular cheat be given a free ride. He broke the law, he has to accept the consequences.

Ah so despite being married to an American, owning a company and paying his taxes,

You Woke anti Trumpers break me up…because he owns a small business he is above the law? That’s one of the things about the States, everybody is the same under the law. One would think that was a good thing, but apparently not if it weakens the anti Trumpers narrative.

...and they were told numerously, go back and come in the right way ..they even pay people to self deport and then follow the correct channels...but nooo!!!

...and they were told numerously, go back and come in the right way ..they even pay people to self deport and then follow the correct channels to get back in...but nooo!!!

As for him not agreeing to be deported, a woman working for me faced the same scenario and left. She expects to be back well within the year. Thousands of others have agreed to leave to normalize their status. Why should this particular cheat be given a free ride. He broke the law, he has to accept the consequences.

Not asking for a free ride, just that he's not locked up for 5 months in a concentration camp.

You Woke anti Trumpers break me up…because he owns a small business he is above the law?

Gotta love the auld strawman arguments.

That’s one of the things about the States, everybody is the same under the law.

AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAH

Anger laughing hysterically because once again he has to defend the indefensible. His plea that the Mick er Paddy be given better treatment because he is a business owner. No capitalist in America would make that argument, let alone a liberal. But our tame Paddy has no problem with special treatment.

Foot ….big mouth….in.

"Not asking for a free ride, just that he's not locked up for 5 months in a concentration camp."

He could have gone back to Ireland without going into detention... "concentration camp"... throwing in the Nazi angle...nice!

Can I come to Ireland on a 3 month visa and then stay for 19 years?

Sharing a tent in a detention camp with 70 for five months is cruel, unnecessary & way o.t.t.

More evidence of rampant authoritarianism.

Quite pathetic how excuse after excuse is being made for someone who very clearly and deliberately tried to bypass the system....he had 19 years to sort his shit out

Adhere to the country's laws that you are in... or face the consequences... it really is that simple

So... because he is a business owner, he should get treated differently than a normal illegal.... lol... what next.

BB

Have you eve been to a detention center og ICE or o tta ma tt er any U USA prison?

How do you know the detained people live in tents? If so they are on par wth over a million US citizens living in tents on the sidewalks in the USA in cities controlled by the Democratic Party,

Follow the law and not breaking it is the answer to most cases, Seamus broke the law and there are thousands of such cases in the USA, In normal cases arrested by ICE the situation is the arrestees had criminal records in thei countries of origin as fo serious crimes committed plus serious crimes in the USA. and had deportation orders from the USA - but never implemented by the US Govenment.

It is partly political since the Democrats register these cases as voters and they can vote wthout producing any proof of identity and proof of citizenship, Tha is why the Democrats and supporting media used indvidual cases to stop the laws being implemented,

Anger laughing hysterically because once again he has to defend the indefensible. His plea that the Mick er Paddy be given better treatment because he is a business owner. No capitalist in America would make that argument, let alone a liberal. But our tame Paddy has no problem with special treatment.

No I'm laughing how ridiculous your comment that everyone is the same under the law in the US. Mike levels of stupidity.

He could have gone back to Ireland without going into detention... "concentration camp"... throwing in the Nazi angle...nice!

You're no doubt aware that concentration camps were invented by the British in your country.

Can I come to Ireland on a 3 month visa and then stay for 19 years?

I doubt it, but you won't be detained for 5 months 4,000 miles from where you were living in such dire conditions either. Maybe we can build a dentation centre on Rockall.

Sharing a tent in a detention camp with 70 for five months is cruel, unnecessary & way o.t.t.

More evidence of rampant authoritarianism.

The cruelty is the point.

So... because he is a business owner, he should get treated differently than a normal illegal.... lol... what next.

No one is saying that, but you know as well as I that different offences warrant different punishments. This guy was in every other way a model immigrant that the US claims it want. Surely there was more humane way of dealing with this case. Once detained they could of said we are processing your deportation, then released him to go home and came back for him when they were ready to deport him. He wasn't considered a flight risk but if he did flee the country hey problem solved for them. If he tried to go into hiding that would of meant he would of permanently jeopardize ever getting a green card.

How do you know the detained people live in tents?

Because people have these things called eyeballs Mike. You do too, you should try using them.

This guy was in every other way a model immigrant that the US claims it want. Surely there was more humane way of dealing with this case. Once detained they could of said we are processing your deportation, then released him to go home and came back for him when they were ready to deport him. He wasn't considered a flight risk but if he did flee the country hey problem solved for them. If he tried to go into hiding that would of meant he would of permanently jeopardize ever getting a green card.

Fair point.... but it's probably far too difficult to implement this with so many different variables in each case

It would take far too long, and completely put a huge drag and drain on the entire system, to take a step back and treat each case like this on it's own merit, because there are just far too many illegals

How many people has been released from custody and then vanished. In he USA it is normal rpactice and this guy must have a record insofar as other issues are concerne and held in custody,

Stav

My g randparents lost many familty members in th e An glo Boer War, The UK concentration camps were horrible = they were created to accommodate WOMEN AND CHILDREN after the soldiers burned down the farm houses and stole all the farm animals.

The families were housed in tents and no medical services were provided, Many inhabitants starved to death There were more women and children killed in the Boer War than there were soldiers killed,

After the war the farm owners were forced into virtual poverty on an amazing level - after the wars and for 30 years after the war ending 50% .of the White Afrikaans people were classed as poor Whites and many of them became Communists in the period and after that they moved to the National Party for support.

Ther are no real cncentration camps in the world not modelled on the UK Boer War system with factual Govrnment murder rates as high as they were in the Boer War,

So because he is ‘model citizen’ it’s humane to to give him a separate path….vs the simple man who is breaking his back working in gardens and uses all his meagre savings to get legal help.

Disgusting elitism.

Once detained they could of said we are processing your deportation

….could ‘have’ said. Irish education is abysmal. Hey maybe this Paddy was just an uneducated Mick.

I think the UK should recolonise South Africa and take back ownership. Africans can't be trusted to run Africa, and we need more resources. We need to liberate more natural resources (And put CleverMike in a cage, just for good measure).