Irish Businessman Detained by US Immigration Authorities for Five Months
An Irish national who has resided in the United States for over two decades, holds a valid work permit, and is married to an American citizen has spent five months in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, facing potential deportation. Seamus Culleton, originally from County Kilkenny, was arrested in a random immigration sweep on September 9, 2025, while driving home from work in the Boston area.
Legal Battle and Alleged System Failures
According to his attorney, Ogor Winnie Okoye of BOS Legal Group in Massachusetts, Culleton is a "model immigrant" who has become a victim of a capricious and inept immigration system. Culleton operates a successful plastering business in Boston and initiated a green card application in April 2025, with only a final interview remaining. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying a Massachusetts driving licence and his valid work permit.
After being held in ICE facilities near Boston and Buffalo, New York, Culleton was transferred to a detention centre in El Paso, Texas. He described the conditions as cold, damp, and squalid, with fights breaking out over insufficient food. In an interview with the Irish Times, he likened the facility to a "concentration camp, absolute hell", sharing a cell with more than 70 men.
Contested Deportation and Legal Irregularities
During his detention in Buffalo, Culleton was asked to sign a form agreeing to deportation but refused, instead ticking a box to contest his arrest on the grounds of his marriage to US citizen Tiffany Smyth and his valid work permit. At a November hearing, a judge approved his release on a $4,000 bond, which Smyth paid, yet authorities continued to detain him without initial explanation.
When his attorney appealed to a federal court, two ICE agents claimed Culleton had signed deportation documents in Buffalo. Culleton vehemently denied this, stating the signatures were not his and expressing his desire for handwriting experts to examine them. He also believes a video of his ICE interview would prove he refused to sign. The judge noted irregularities in ICE's court documents but ultimately sided with the agency, leaving Culleton without legal recourse for appeal under US law.
Family Anguish and Deteriorating Health
Tiffany Smyth described enduring five months of heartbreak, stress, anxiety, and anger, praying daily for a miracle. After a video call with her husband—their first in five months—she reported to his family in Ireland that he had lost weight and hair, developed sores and infections, and had been requesting antibiotics for four weeks without adequate medical care.
His sister, Caroline Culleton, told RTÉ that detainees are seldom allowed outside for exercise or fresh air, raising concerns about his physical and mental health long-term effects. "It's heartbreaking. We've talked about what he endures physically but what about his mental health? How will he deal with this when he gets out?" she said.
Broader Context and Irish Government Response
This case follows other high-profile incidents involving Irish citizens detained by US immigration, such as Cliona Ward, who was held for 17 days over a decades-old criminal record despite having a green card. Last week, the Irish government reported a 330% increase in consular assistance requests related to deportation from the US, rising from 15 cases in 2024 to 65 last year.
Okoye emphasized that the US government has discretionary power to release Culleton, criticising its handling as inept towards an immigrant diligently following the green card process. "Here's a gentleman who is a model immigrant. He owned a successful business, he's married to a US citizen," she stated, highlighting the systemic issues at play.
Culleton remains uncertain about his future, calling the situation "psychological torture", as facility officials recently attempted to have him sign a deportation order, which he again refused.
