Government engages US authorities over Irish man detained by ICE

Irish authorities are engaging US officials after a Kilkenny man detained by ICE described harsh conditions and fears for his safety

Seamus Culleton was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Boston last year. Picture: The Irish Times

The Government is in direct contact with the US Department of Homeland Security over the case of an Irish man detained by ICE since last year.

Seamus Culleton was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Boston last year and later transferred to a detention centre in Texas.

Mr Culleton has said he fears for his life at the detention centre, describing it as a “modern day concentration camp”.

“You just don’t know what’s going to happen on a day-to-day basis. You don’t know if there’s going to be riots, you don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s a nightmare down here,” Mr Culleton said, speaking from the detention centre on RTÉ’s Liveline.

Originally from Glenmore in Co Kilkenny, Mr Culleton has lived in the United States for almost 20 years.

He described conditions at the detention centre as “filthy”, saying toilet and shower facilities were rarely cleaned.

“It’s a bunch of temporary tents. There’s probably room for 1,000 detainees in each tent. I believe there’s five tents.

“I’ve been locked in the same room now for 4 and a half months. I’ve had barely any outside time, no fresh air, no sunshine. I could probably count on both hands the amount of times I’ve been outside.” 

Mr Culleton said detainees receive three meals a day, but described the portions as “very, very small”, leaving people hungry.

The Irish man said ICE detained him in Boston on September 9 while he was returning goods to Home Depot.

He said he believed he was legally covered, having received a work permit to remain in the US a month earlier and being “just about to receive my Green Card”.

A Government spokesperson confirmed Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been briefed on the case.

“The Irish government, through the Consulate in Austin is providing consular assistance to Seamus and his family, while the Irish Embassy in Washington DC continues to engage directly with the Department of Homeland Security about his case,” the spokesperson said.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said the Irish Embassy is engaging with the Department of Homeland Security at a “senior level”.

Mr Culleton has appealed to Irish politicians for help, asking Mr Martin to raise his case with US President Donald Trump during his White House visit next month.