Immigration

Autumn Billings | 2.11.2026 10:08 AM

On Monday, an Irish national called into Ireland's RTE Radio from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in El Paso, Texas, and asked the Irish prime minister to intervene in his case. Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention for five months despite having work authorization, a pending green card application, and no criminal history. 

Culleton entered the U.S. legally in 2009 on a visa waiver program and overstayed the visa's 90-day limit, according to The Guardian. After marrying his wife, Tiffany Smyth, he applied for lawful permanent residence and obtained a valid work permit, his lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, told The Guardian. But that didn't stop immigration agents from arresting him, Culleton told RTE's Liveline. 

Culleton told Liveline that he was returning home after returning items to a Home Depot on September 9 when he noticed a suspicious car following him. After a few minutes, the car flashed blue lights to pull him over, and agents quickly surrounded him. Culleton said he........

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