Irish man in ICE detention begs Ireland for help, says he fears for his life

An Irish man, Seamus Culleton, in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in Texas, United States has appealed to Ireland’s government for help after being held for five months despite having a valid work permit and no criminal record.

Culleton told Ireland’s RTÉ radio that conditions in the El Paso detention facility were unbearable and that he was afraid of staff.

“I’m not in fear of the other inmates. I’m afraid of the staff. They’re capable of anything.”

Culleton urged the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to raise his case with United States President Donald Trump during a planned White House visit next month for St Patrick’s Day events.

“Just try to get me out of here and do all you can, please. It’s an absolute torture, psychological and physical torture,” Culleton said. “It’s just a horrible, horrible, horrible place.”

Originally from County Kilkenny, Culleton runs a plastering business in the Boston area. He said he was arrested by ICE agents on 9 September 2025 after visiting a hardware store.

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According to his lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, Culleton entered the US in 2009 under the visa waiver programme and overstayed, but later gained a statutory exemption after marrying a US citizen, Tiffany Smyth, and applying for lawful permanent residence.

Okoye said the detention stopped him from attending his final green card interview in October.

“It’s inexplicable that this man has been in detention.”

Culleton said he has been held in a crowded room with dozens of other detainees, with limited access to fresh air, exercise, or adequate food.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen on a day-to-day basis… It’s a nightmare down here.”

He described toilets and showers as “filthy” and said meals were too small. “So everybody is hungry.”

Culleton said he tries to remain hopeful through daily calls with his wife and family. “She’s my rock.”

He also appealed directly to Irish authorities for intervention, saying his mother in Ireland is struggling.

“My mother especially, she is heartbroken… I just want to get back to my life.”

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance through the Irish consulate in Austin, Texas, and that the embassy in Washington was engaging with the US Department of Homeland Security at a “senior level”.

The case comes as Dublin seeks to manage relations with the Trump administration, while opposition parties have questioned the upcoming White House visit.

Okoye said US authorities could deport Culleton at short notice.

“There’s no reason why the government shouldn’t just release him and allow him to attend the [green card] interview that will confirm his legal status,” she said.

The case has drawn attention as an Irish man in ICE detention begs Ireland for help, says he fears for his life, raising fresh questions about immigration enforcement and detention conditions in the US.

(The Guardian UK)