Latest news with #ClionaWard
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘It still doesn't feel real' – Irish tourist detained by US immigration authorities for overstaying visa by three days
The 35-year-old tech worker and father of three, travelled to West Virginia to visit his girlfriend last autumn under the visa waiver program, which allows tourists to stay in the country for 90 days. The Guardian reports the man's medical records show he was unable to travel as planned last December due to a health issue, but he was detained in three different US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities for around 100 days. He agreed to deportation when he was first arrested, but the man remained in detention and was not returned home until March of this year, when he said he was banned from entering the US for ten years. It comes amid a broader crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, which has included increased checks for visa applicants, including the 'thorough vetting' of social media accounts. Earlier this year, Irish woman Cliona Ward, who lived in the US since she was a teenager, was detained for more than two weeks in relation to decades old convictions that she understood had been expunged. The Guardian has reported that 'Thomas', who could not be named as he feared facing further consequences with US authorities, planned to return home in October last year but tore his calf, which led to severe swelling and difficulties walking. "Thomas' told The Guardian that a doctor ordered him not to travel for 8 to 12 weeks due to the risk of blood clots which meant he had to stay beyond December 8, when his visa expired. He said he contacted the Irish and US embassies and the Department of Homeland Security to seek an extension, but acknowledged it was short notice and did not hear back. "I thought they would understand because I had the correct paperwork. It was just a couple of days for medical reasons.' While visiting his girlfriend's family in Georgia, he suffered a mental health episode and someone, who had overheard a conflict between the pair in their hotel room, called the police. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more His girlfriend told The Guardian that she hoped officers would get him treatment and did not want him to face criminal charges, but he was taken to jail and accused of 'falsely imprisoning' her in the room. He was soon released on bond but was picked up by US immigration authorities, who transported him to an ICE processing center in Folkston, Georgia. Despite signing a removal order agreeing to his deportation, he remained in detention and was at one point transported to a federal prison for criminal defendants where he said detainees were 'treated less than human' and he 'didn't see the sky for weeks.' He was escorted back to Ireland by two armed federal officers after being transferred to another facility in March, though The Guardian reports it remains unclear why he was jailed for so long for a minor immigration violation. 'I'll never forget it, and it'll be a long time before I'll be able to even start to unpack everything I went through. It still doesn't feel real,' he said. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is 'aware of this case and has provided consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes advice for outward travel in respect of over 200 countries and territories. The advice provides an objective assessment of the risks individuals could face if travelling overseas, with a view to helping them to make informed decisions for themselves. This includes recently revised travel advice in regard to citizens traveling to the United States. 'All of our travel advice is reviewed regularly and updated based on consultation with our Embassies and Consulates on the ground, the relevant local authorities in each country, and our international partners, together with our domestic partners where appropriate.'
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Cliona Ward thanks family following her release from custody in US
She was detained by Immigration and Customs officers in April after returning from Ireland Cliona Ward has thanked her family following her release from custody in the United States earlier this month. The 54-year-old who is originally from Dublin, lives in Santa Cruz, California. She was arrested after she returned from visiting her dying father in Ireland in April. Ward was being detained by ICE over minor convictions from almost 20 years ago, which were supposed to have been expunged from her record. Cliona Ward News in 90 Seconds - May 27th She was released and told to report to San Francisco with proof of her expungement; however, when she got there, she was reapprehended, charged with moral turpitude and shipped to Washington. The mother remained behind bars in a detention facility until she was released earlier this month. Taking to a GoFundMe page, set up by her sister Orla Holladay, Cliona thanked her family for support and talked about her ordeal for the first time. "My warrior sister, defender of justice!!!! Could this be a calling for you? You dive in deep and figure out what to do next...I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me, and now continue to fight for justice served,' she wrote. "You know how to weave the strings together to provide due process for the people in ICE detention centres. "That is all they need.... They are not informed on how to get out and they are so afraid to speak up for the basic human how to find council or interpreter services... They give them detention handbooks in English and Spanish only,' she continued. "All done on purpose to keep them detained and deportable. I cannot thank you enough for what you did. "Everyone should have the opportunity to prove their innocence. If proven guilty, at least they had the opportunity to be heard. I must secure my status before diving deep, so thank you for being my voice for them. I love you so much, my Warrior, my defender, my sister, my anam cara,' she continued. "There is truly no one in the world like you, and I am truly blessed!" Orla previously told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that she is terrified Cliona was going to get lost in the system. 'She's afraid that she's going to get lost in the system. That was the one thing she said to me: 'Please don't let me get lost.' Orla explained that Cliona has been sober for almost 20 years, and currently works at a nonprofit Christian organisation teaching children. 'This has to do with a painful addiction, and she did everything she could do to change that,' said Holladay. 'She's a viable, valuable part of this community,' she said, describing her as a gentle, loving and private person.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Cliona Ward: Irish woman held in US detention centre thanks ‘warrior' sister
Cliona Ward , who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for almost three weeks after returning from a visit to Ireland, has called her sister's efforts to get her out of jail 'warrior' like. Ms Ward (54), a green-card holder, who has been living legally in the United States for about 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after returning to the US from a trip to Ireland to visit her ill father in Youghal, Co Cork. The Irish woman, whose green card is valid until 2033, was detained and questioned by customs at the San Francisco airport on March 19th over her past criminal record. She was facing deportation by immigration officials. Her prior criminal record includes six cases - two felonies for possession of drugs in December 2007 and January 2008, and four misdemeanors. READ MORE She and her sister Orla Holladay, who also lives in the US, said her convictions were expunged, prompting customs to temporarily release her to obtain the appropriate documentation to prove her records had been cleared in California. [ US immigration judge rules Palestinian Columbia student Khalil can be deported Opens in new window ] When she went to plead her case at San Francisco airport to customs on April 21st and present proof of her expungement, she was detained again and told to argue her case in front of an immigration judge. The expungement had been carried out at a state, not federal, level. Ms Ward was released by a court in Seattle on May 7th after her original convictions were formally vacated so that they would be recognised at a federal level. In her first comments since her release, on a GoFundMe page set up by her sister during her detention, Ms Ward called Ms Holladay, 'my warrior, defender of justice. Could this be a calling for you?' While thanking Ms Holladay she also acknowledged the public's help, support and financial donations. Almost $50,000 was raised. 'I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me and now continue to fight for justice served,' Ms Ward said. [ Protest held as US judge arrested and charged with obstructing immigration operation Opens in new window ] 'Everyone should have the opportunity to prove their innocence. I love you so much my warrior, my defender, my sister, my anam cara. There is truly no one in the world like you and I am truly blessed!' Ms Ward said those who are being detained by ICE 'are not informed on how to get out and they are so afraid to speak up for the basic human rights ... like how to find council or interpreter services'. 'They [officials] give them detention handbooks in English and Spanish only. All done on purpose to keep them detained and deportable.' Ms Holladay, who is now looking after her sister following the release of her sister from jail, said previously Ms Ward had PTSD after her release.
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cliona Ward lauds her 'warrior' sister's fight against the US immigration system
Cliona Ward, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for almost three weeks after returning from a visit to Ireland has described her sister's efforts to get her out of jail as 'warrior' like. Cliona Ward, 54, a green-card holder, who has been living legally there for around 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after arriving back in the US from a trip to Ireland to visit her ill father in Youghal, Co Cork. Ms Ward, whose green card is valid until 2033, was detained and questioned by customs at the San Francisco airport on March 19 over her past criminal record. She was facing deportation by immigration officials. Her prior criminal record includes six cases - two felonies for possession of drugs in December 2007 and January 2008, and four misdemeanours. She and her sister Orla Holladay, who also lives in the US, claimed her convictions were expunged, prompting customs to temporarily release her to obtain the appropriate documentation to prove that her records had been cleared in California. Campaigners gathered outside the detention centre, calling for the release of Cliona Ward. Picture: Facebook/iAmerica/SEIU2015 When she went to plead her case at San Francisco airport to customs on April 21 and present proof of her expungement, she was detained again and told to argue her case in front of an immigration judge. The expungement had been carried out at a state, not federal, level. Ms Ward was released by a court in Seattle on May 7 after her original convictions were formally vacated so that they would be recognised at a federal level. Her case has garnered huge media attention both here and in the US. Her detention was linked in many quarters to the Trump administration's new get-tough policies on immigration and border control which made Ms Ward and her family fear she would be held in detention for many months while waiting for her case to be processed by the US immigration system. In the aftermath of her release, US representative Jimmy Panetta said: "This case is an example of this administration doing the wrong thing when it comes to its over reaching deportation policies that can sweep up people like Cliona.' In her first comments since her release, on a Gofundme page, Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom, Ms Ward called her sister 'my warrior, defender of justice" and added "could this be a calling for you?". While thanking Ms Holladay she also acknowledged the public's help, support and financial donations. Almost $50,000 was raised. 'I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me and now continue to fight for justice served," Ms Ward continued. 'Everyone should have the opportunity to prove their innocence. I love you so much my warrior, my defender, my sister, my anam cara. There is truly no one in the world like you and I am truly blessed. Ms Ward claimed that those who are being detained by ICE "are not informed on how to get out and they are so afraid to speak up for the basic human how to find council (sic) or interpreter services..." 'They (officials) give them detention handbooks in English and Spanish only. All done on purpose to keep them detained and deportable.' Ms Holladay, who is now looking after her sister following her release from jail, said Cliona "will reach out to all of you soon". "She is recovering from dental surgery and needs some time to heal both physically and emotionally," she added.
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Irish woman who was detained in the US thanks her sister for her 'warrior' like support
Cliona Ward, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for almost three weeks after returning from a visit to Ireland, has called her sister's efforts to get her out of jail as 'warrior'like. Cliona Ward, 54, a green-card holder, who has been living legally there for around 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after arriving back in the US from a trip to Ireland to visit her ill father in Youghal, Co Cork. Advertisement Ms Ward, whose green card is valid until 2033, was detained and questioned by customs at the San Francisco airport on March 19th over her past criminal record. She was facing deportation by immigration officials. Her prior criminal record includes six cases - two felonies for possession of drugs in December 2007 and January 2008, and four misdemeanours. She and her sister Orla Holladay, who also lives in the US, claimed her convictions were expunged, prompting customs to temporarily release her to obtain the appropriate documentation to prove that her records had been cleared in California. Advertisement When she went to plead her case at San Francisco airport to customs on April 21st and present proof of her expungement, she was detained again and told to argue her case in front of an immigration judge. The expungement had been carried out at a state not federal level. Ms Ward was released by a court in Seattle on May 7th after her original convictions were formally vacated so that they would be recognised at a federal level. Her case has garnered huge media attention both here and in the US. Advertisement In her first comments since her release, on the gofundme page, Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom Ms Ward called her sister, 'My warrior, defender of justice. Could this be a calling for you?' While thanking Ms Holladay she also acknowledged the public's help, support and financial donations. Almost $50,000 was raised. 'I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me and now continue to fight for justice served,' Ms Ward continued. 'Everyone should have the opportunity to prove their innocence. I love you so much my warrior, my defender, my sister, my anam cara. There is truly no one in the world like you, and I am truly blessed!' Advertisement Ms Ward claimed that those who are being detained by ICE 'are not informed on how to get out, and they are so afraid to speak up for the basic human how to find council or interpreter services... 'They(officials) give them detention handbooks in English and Spanish only. All done on purpose to keep them detained and deportable.' Ms Holladay who is now looking after her sister following the release of her sister from jail revealed that 'Life is not normal for us. Cliona is in (suffering from) PTSD. She spent the night vomiting , purging the food she had been fed and because they don't ever turn the lights off in the detention center (and) when she closes her eyes all she sees is fluorescent lights.' Democrat California Congressman Jimmy Panetta lent his support for her release. He tweeted on X: 'Cliona Ward is released and that's what happens when we fight for transparency, due process and justice. We worked this case from Santa Cruz to DC…and from Seattle to Ireland'.
