Irish Man With US Work Permit Detained by ICE: “Absolute Hell”

Irish businessman detained by ICE despite valid permit

Reports extreme overcrowding

Bond revoked without explanation

The life of an Irish businessman who had been living in the United States for two decades took an abrupt turn after being detained by immigration agents.

Seamus Culleton, originally from Glenmore in County Kilkenny, says he has spent five months in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas under conditions he describes as extreme.

The case of the Irish businessman detained by ICE has drawn attention in both the United States and Ireland, amid reports of overcrowded detention centers and federal courts facing a growing backlog of bond hearings.

Seamus Culleton’s Case Reignites Debate Over Immigration Detention

Detained Despite Valid Work Permit and Green Card Application

Culleton had been living in the United States for 20 years with a valid work visa.

He is married to a U.S. citizen and ran a plastering business in Boston.

In September, while returning home, he was stopped by federal officers.

He presented a Massachusetts driver’s license and a valid work permit issued as part of his green card application filed in mid-2025.

Despite this, he was detained!

In a phone interview with The Irish Times, he said that during the arrest he was not informed where he was being taken.

He spent five days in a small cell with several other people before being flown to an ICE facility in Buffalo, New York.

There, he was interviewed by an immigration officer who gave him a document to accept deportation. He refused to sign and chose to challenge his arrest.

Transfer to Texas and Overcrowding Allegations

Seamus Culleton was later flown to the ICE detention center in El Paso, Texas, where he says he has remained in the same room with 70 other men.

He described the facility as “a concentration camp, an absolute hell.”

He also spoke of an environment marked by “depression and anxiety,” with fights over limited food portions, dirty bathrooms, and very few opportunities to go outside — only a couple of times in five months.

In November, a judge authorized his release on a $4,000 bond. His wife paid the amount, but — according to their account — the U.S. government revoked the bond without explanation.

Overwhelmed Courts and U.S. Government Position

The New York Times reported that federal courts are being “overwhelmed” by bond hearings for people detained by ICE.

According to the outlet, “judges have determined that the Trump administration has been disregarding long-standing legal interpretations requiring the release on bond of many detained immigrants.”

Seamus Culleton expressed anguish over his situation.

“My whole life is here [in the United States]. I worked very hard to build my business. My wife is here,” he said, adding that he fears for his life inside the detention center.

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that Culleton entered the country in 2009 under the visa waiver program, which allowed a 90-day stay, and did not leave afterward.

“A pending green card application and work authorization do not grant someone legal status to remain in our country,” McLaughlin said, also denying that inhumane conditions exist at ICE facilities.

ICE currently holds about 70,000 people in custody, the highest number since the agency was created. According to recent data, approximately 74% of detainees have no criminal convictions or records.

Ireland Voices Concern Over ICE Detention Facilities

Irish Businessman Detained by ICE – PHOTO: Shutterstock

The case of the Irish businessman detained by ICE also prompted reactions in Ireland.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin stated:

“All countries have immigration policies, but those ICE facilities are a cause for concern.”

Irish lawmaker Neale Richmond said that 65 Irish citizens sought assistance related to ICE from the United States in 2025.

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In 2026, one case has been recorded so far, representing a 330% increase compared to the previous year. The figures include individuals already deported and others in the process of deportation, though they only account for those who officially requested assistance.

As his legal situation remains unresolved, Seamus Culleton stays detained in Texas, awaiting a decision that could determine whether he will be allowed to remain in or permanently leave the United States.

SOURCE: AS.com