Congressman hopes US government will 'do the right thing' in case of Ice detainee Cliona

Cliona Ward has a court date on May 7, which will determine whether or not she will be allowed to return to her home in California. File picture

A local congressman for the Californian home town of Irish detainee Cliona Ward, who is being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (Ice), has said her case will be a “tough” one but that he is hopeful the US government will “do the right thing”.

Ms Ward, a 54-year-old Dublin native who has lived in America for more than 40 years, was taken into custody by Ice officials on April 21 on foot of a quarter-century old drugs conviction which had been expunged.