US Immigration Officials Under Fire for Detaining Irish Man with Valid Work Permit
A five-month detention has left an Irish man, Seamus Culleton, facing deportation despite having a valid work permit and no criminal record. The case highlights the inconsistencies in US immigration laws and procedures.
Culleton, 45, is married to a US citizen and runs a plastering business in Boston. He entered the country on a visa waiver programme in 2009 but overstayed his initial 90-day limit. After marrying his US-born wife, Tiffany Smyth, he obtained a work-approved authorisation tied to a green card application.
However, despite having all the necessary documentation, Culleton was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a random sweep at a hardware store in Boston in September 2025. His lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, described him as a "model immigrant" who had become the victim of an inept system.
Culleton was initially released on $4,000 bond after a judge approved his release, but authorities continued to detain him without explanation. The situation worsened when his attorney appealed, and ICE agents claimed that Culleton had signed documents agreeing to deportation, despite saying he did not.
The case raises concerns about the handling of immigration cases by US authorities. "He's never been arrested," said Okoye. "He's married to a US citizen. He owns his own business. He's established a life here. He's done everything right." The detention has taken a toll on Culleton's mental and physical health, with reports of poor living conditions, inadequate food, and limited exercise.
The incident is part of a growing trend of Irish citizens seeking consular assistance due to deportation concerns in the US. Last year, 65 Irish citizens sought help from their government, up from just 15 in 2024.
Culleton's future remains uncertain, but his family and supporters are urging for him to be released and allowed to attend his final interview. The case highlights the need for greater oversight of immigration authorities to ensure that individuals like Culleton receive fair treatment under the law.
A five-month detention has left an Irish man, Seamus Culleton, facing deportation despite having a valid work permit and no criminal record. The case highlights the inconsistencies in US immigration laws and procedures.
Culleton, 45, is married to a US citizen and runs a plastering business in Boston. He entered the country on a visa waiver programme in 2009 but overstayed his initial 90-day limit. After marrying his US-born wife, Tiffany Smyth, he obtained a work-approved authorisation tied to a green card application.
However, despite having all the necessary documentation, Culleton was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a random sweep at a hardware store in Boston in September 2025. His lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, described him as a "model immigrant" who had become the victim of an inept system.
Culleton was initially released on $4,000 bond after a judge approved his release, but authorities continued to detain him without explanation. The situation worsened when his attorney appealed, and ICE agents claimed that Culleton had signed documents agreeing to deportation, despite saying he did not.
The case raises concerns about the handling of immigration cases by US authorities. "He's never been arrested," said Okoye. "He's married to a US citizen. He owns his own business. He's established a life here. He's done everything right." The detention has taken a toll on Culleton's mental and physical health, with reports of poor living conditions, inadequate food, and limited exercise.
The incident is part of a growing trend of Irish citizens seeking consular assistance due to deportation concerns in the US. Last year, 65 Irish citizens sought help from their government, up from just 15 in 2024.
Culleton's future remains uncertain, but his family and supporters are urging for him to be released and allowed to attend his final interview. The case highlights the need for greater oversight of immigration authorities to ensure that individuals like Culleton receive fair treatment under the law.
this is just plain wrong man's life is being ruined by red tape and some dude in a suit making bad calls 
Seamus Culleton has done everything right, got married, built a business, and still he's facing deportation for being a bit late with his paperwork 
it's like the US immigration system is broken, and nobody seems to care about fixing it 
the poor guy's been living in limbo for five months, with no end in sight 
and what really gets me is that he's not even a bad guy, just an honest immigrant trying to make a life for himself 
come on guys, can't we all just calm down about this one? 
i mean, Seamus Culleton's got a valid work permit and he's been living here with his wife for years... what's really going on here is that our immigration system is broken 
. it's not personal, it's not political, it's just people getting messed up in the system 
. he's married to a US citizen, owns a business, and has no record 
. can't we all just try to be more understanding and compassionate towards each other? 
I mean, who detains someone with a valid work permit? That's like getting caught at airport security with no luggage and being sent to detention 
. But seriously, this Irish guy Seamus has been through it for 5 months now and his mental health is taking a hit 
. He's got a wife, a business, the whole works! What did he do wrong? It's like they're trying to deport him to the land of leprechauns 
. The system needs to get its act together and treat people with some fairness, ya know? 
, how can you say US immigration officials are incompetent when they're just doing their job? It's not like Seamus was trying to sneak in or anything, he overstayed his visa and now he's paying the price. You can't expect him to know about all the loopholes and exceptions in the system. His "model immigrant" status doesn't automatically entitle him to a free pass. And what's with all the sympathy for him? He's not exactly a victim here, he made a mistake and now he's facing the consequences. I'm not saying the detention conditions are ideal or anything, but if he's really as perfect as his lawyer says he is, then maybe he should be released on even more generous terms than $4,000 bond 
.
They need to sort out their immigration system ASAP because this kind of thing can happen to anyone.
. I mean, come on, a guy with a valid work permit and no criminal record gets detained for months? It's like they're making it up as they go along. Seamus Culleton is basically a model immigrant - he's got a job, a wife, a business... what more can you want? 
The fact that 65 Irish citizens are now seeking consular assistance due to deportation concerns just shows how broken the system is 
this is so unfair 
and meanwhile the system is still broken... has anyone checked on how many other people are going through this? 
we need to know more about these laws and procedures so that someone like seamus doesn't get caught in the system again 
! But noooo, ICE still tryna deport him. Poor dude's mental and physical health is sufferin 'cause of this mess 
. Can't they just treat people fairly and with respect? 
. His case is super weird, i mean, hes got a wife who's a US citizen and hes running his own business, what more proof does the immigration people need that hes a good guy? 
And whats with these random sweeps at hardware stores? Like, whats the logic behind that? 
newsflash: just cuz he didnt fight it in court doesnt mean he agreed 2 deportation. its like, basic human rights r being ignored here.
we need to make sure that everyone is treated fairly under the law, regardless of their background or situation 
. we need to get our government to step up and make sure ppl like seamus are treated fair 
It's a classic case of an inept system and it needs to change ASAP 
his lawyer is right, he's never been arrested, married to a us citizen, own business... what more proof does he need?