Irish Citizen Seamus Culleton Detained by ICE for Five Months Despite Valid Work Permit and Green Card Application

Seamus Culleton, an Irish citizen married to a U.S. citizen, has been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention for five months since his arrest in September 2025. Culleton possesses a valid work permit and has a pending application for lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a green card.

Background and Immigration Status

Originally from County Kilkenny, Ireland, Seamus Culleton entered the United States in 2009 on a visa waiver program and overstayed its 90-day limit. He later married Tiffany Smyth, a U.S. citizen, and subsequently applied for lawful permanent residence.

In connection with this application, initiated in April 2025, Culleton obtained a statutory exemption allowing him to work and holds a valid work-approved authorization. He operates a plastering business in the Boston area and has no criminal record.

Arrest and Detention Timeline

Culleton was arrested on September 9, 2025. Accounts describe his apprehension occurring during an immigration sweep at a hardware store while purchasing supplies, or outside a Home Depot in Saugus, Massachusetts, after a stop at the store. One account suggested agents may have identified him as a non-citizen by scanning his license plate.

Following his arrest, Culleton reported informing agents of his marital status, pending marriage-based petition, and work permit. His initial detention in ICE facilities near Boston, including Burlington, Massachusetts, prevented him from attending his final green card interview scheduled for October. Culleton was subsequently transferred multiple times, including to facilities in Buffalo, New York, and ultimately to a facility in El Paso, Texas, which has also been identified as being at the Fort Bliss Army base. He has remained in detention for nearly five months.

Legal Challenges and Conflicting Accounts

In November, a judge approved Culleton's release on a $4,000 bond, which his wife paid. However, his detention continued.

A significant point of contention arose regarding deportation documents. Culleton stated that he refused to sign a deportation agreement while at the Buffalo facility and again last week. He reported intending to contest his arrest, citing his marriage to a U.S. citizen and valid work permit.

When his attorney appealed his continued detention, ICE agents claimed Culleton had signed deportation documents in Buffalo. Culleton denied these claims, stating the signatures were not his.

A judge reportedly noted irregularities in ICE’s court documents but ruled in favor of the agency. U.S. law reportedly prevents Culleton from appealing this specific decision, but he seeks handwriting analysis and video evidence from his Buffalo interview.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed that Culleton entered the United States in 2009 under a visa waiver program and failed to leave. McLaughlin stated that he received due process and was issued a final order of removal on September 10, 2025. She also indicated that Culleton was offered immediate removal to Ireland but "chose to stay in ICE custody" and took "affirmative steps to remain in detention." Culleton has publicly stated he did not sign deportation papers.

Reported Detention Conditions

Culleton and his family have reported on his conditions in detention. He described the El Paso facility as being composed of temporary tents, with capacity for approximately one thousand detainees per tent. He reported being confined to the same room for over four months, with minimal access to fresh air or outdoor time.

Regarding living conditions, Culleton stated:

• Meals are small, leading to hunger among detainees.
• No commissary options are available for additional food.
• Toilets and showers are infrequently cleaned and unsanitary.
• Competition for food occurs, with staff showing preference to certain detainees.
• Concerns about personal safety were expressed, citing fears of harm from security staff.
• He reported the El Paso facility conditions were cold, damp, and squalid, involving conflicts over food.

His wife, Tiffany Smyth, reported that a recent video call, their first in five months, revealed Culleton had lost weight and hair, and developed sores and infections. His sister, Caroline Culleton, stated he had been requesting antibiotics for four weeks, and that detainees had limited access to exercise or fresh air.

Calls for Release and Diplomatic Engagement

Culleton's lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, stated that Culleton's detention conditions were challenging and requested his immediate release to facilitate the completion of his lawful permanent resident status adjustment process. Tiffany Smyth has appealed for her husband's release.

The case has drawn diplomatic attention. Culleton appealed to Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin to address his situation with U.S. President Donald Trump during a scheduled meeting. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed engagement "at a senior level" with U.S. authorities regarding the matter and stated it is providing consular assistance via the Irish consulate in Austin, Texas. The Irish embassy in Washington is engaging with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at a senior level. Irish politicians have indicated intentions to communicate with the White House regarding his case.

Broader Context

The Irish government reported an increase in Irish citizens seeking consular assistance regarding deportation from the U.S., rising from 15 in 2024 to 65 in the past year.