Irish Man Held in Boston ICE Detention

- The man has been identified as Seamus Culleton, originally from County Kilkenny, who has resided in the U.S. for nearly two decades and runs a plastering business in the Boston area. - Culleton was arrested by ICE agents on September 9, 2025, outside a Home Depot in Saugus, Massachusetts. He entered the U.S. in 2009 under the Visa Waiver Program and overstayed the 90-day limit, which is his only immigration infraction according to his lawyer. - Despite his visa overstay, Culleton has no criminal record, is married to a U.S. citizen, and had a valid work permit at the time of his arrest as part of his pending green card application. - Following his arrest, Culleton was transferred from a facility near Boston to one in El Paso, Texas, where he has described the conditions as "filthy" and compared it to a "modern day concentration camp". - The Department of Homeland Security stated that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Culleton on September 10, 2025, and that he was offered the chance to be immediately removed to Ireland but chose to remain in ICE custody. His attorney disputes this, and Culleton denies signing documents agreeing to his deportation. - The Irish government is providing consular assistance to Culleton and his family, and the Irish Embassy in Washington D.C. is engaging with the Department of Homeland Security on his case. - The number of Irish citizens seeking consular assistance regarding deportation from the U.S. saw a 330% increase from 15 cases in 2024 to 65 in the last year. According to ICE figures, 99 Irish citizens were deported between January and September 2025. - Prolonged detention in ICE facilities has become more common, with over 7,200 individuals held for at least six months as of mid-January, more than double the number from December 2024.