By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Seamus Culleton, an Irishman residing in the US for over two decades, has been detained by ICE for nearly five months despite holding a valid work permit and being married to a US citizen. Culleton, who owns a plastering business in Boston and was in the process of applying for a green card, claims he refused to sign deportation papers and that his signature has been forged on documents submitted by ICE. His attorney asserts that the case is unusual, as individuals in similar situations, particularly those with pending green card applications based on marriage, would typically not be detained. Despite a judge approving his release on bond, the government denied it, leading to continued detention in challenging conditions.
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The plight of an Irishman, Seamus Culleton, held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since September, paints a grim picture of a system seemingly divorced from basic human decency, even when faced with an individual possessing a valid work permit and married to a U.S. citizen. His description of his detention facility as “absolute hell” and akin to a “concentration camp” is a stark indictment of the conditions he has endured for nearly five months.
Culleton, an immigrant who has lived and worked in the United States for over two decades, operating a plastering business in the Boston area, was arrested on September 9th. This occurred despite him holding a Massachusetts driver’s license and, crucially, a valid work permit issued by the U.S. government. His work permit was part of an ongoing application for a green card, with a final interview still pending. The arbitrary nature of his arrest and prolonged detention, especially given his clean record – reportedly without even a parking ticket – raises serious questions about the rationale behind ICE’s actions.
The ordeal began when Culleton was pulled over by ICE on his way home from work. He was allowed a brief, understandably distressing, phone call to his American wife, Tiffany Smyth, who described the experience as traumatizing, given the complete lack of knowledge regarding his whereabouts. He was initially held in a crowded cell before being transferred to an ICE facility in Buffalo, New York.
It was in Buffalo that Culleton was presented with a form to sign agreeing to his deportation. He refused, instead ticking a box indicating his desire to contest his arrest, citing his marriage to a U.S. citizen and his valid work permit as grounds. This decision seemingly led to his transfer to an ICE facility in El Paso, Texas, where his conditions have been particularly dire.
For four and a half months, Culleton has reportedly been confined to a large, cold, and damp room alongside more than 70 other men. The pervasive hunger, attributed to “child-sized portions” served at communal tables, frequently escalates into fights over food, even over small juice containers. The sanitary conditions of the toilet areas are described as “filthy,” and the lack of any meaningful activity beyond lying on a bed contributes to an atmosphere described as rife with “anxiety and depression.” Opportunities for fresh air and exercise have been exceptionally scarce, numbering fewer than a dozen times in his nearly five-month detention.
Further compounding the injustice, a judge had approved Culleton’s release on a $4,000 bond during a hearing in November, a sum his wife promptly paid. However, his release has not materialized, with the U.S. government subsequently denying the bond, initially without providing any clear explanation. This situation mirrors reports of the Trump administration allegedly ignoring court orders to release individuals, even after bonds have been posted, suggesting a systemic issue rather than an isolated incident.
The prolonged detention of individuals with valid permits or pending legal status, especially when a bond has been paid, is not only unusual but also raises concerns about the efficiency and fairness of the immigration system. The notion that legality becomes secondary once an individual is in ICE custody, with throughput and backlog dictating outcomes, is a deeply unsettling perspective. This suggests a system where individuals are treated as mere “inventory” rather than people with rights and circumstances.
The implications of this case extend beyond the individual hardship. It prompts a broader conversation about the motivations and methodologies of ICE, particularly in an era where concerns about the rise of certain political ideologies and their potential impact on governmental institutions are increasingly vocalized. The comparison to historical atrocities, though charged, reflects a deep-seated fear that such actions could be a precursor to more severe forms of societal control.
The lack of widespread mainstream media coverage for such a profound human rights issue has also been noted, leading to questions about the editorial priorities and potential influences on news reporting. This silence, from some perspectives, allows for a disengaged public and enables the continuation of practices that are perceived as inhumane and unjust. The hope is that independent media can continue to shed light on these situations, fostering awareness and demanding accountability.
The situation prompts reflection on the very essence of American values and how they are being interpreted and applied in immigration enforcement. The desire for a more humane and just system, one that recognizes individual circumstances and legal standing, remains a critical concern for many who witness or experience such events. The indefinite detention of a man with a valid work permit, married to a U.S. citizen, and seeking legal residency, is not just a personal tragedy but a significant indictment of the processes currently in place.