Irishman residing legally in the US for 20 years held in custody by ICE for over 5 months: “I definitely am afraid of rotting away here”

Seamus Culleton, originally from Glenmore in County Kilkenny, Ireland, had lived in the United States for 20 years on a valid work visa. Married to an American and running a plastering business in Boston, his life took a shocking turn when he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has since been held in a Texas detention center he described as “a concentration camp, absolute hell.”

In an interview with Irish broadcaster, Culleton explained he was living in constant fear. “I definitely am afraid of rotting away here. It feels like I’m just stuck and there’s no way out.”

Detained on the way home

In September, Culleton was stopped by federal officers while on his way home. He presented a Massachusetts driver’s license and a valid work permit issued as part of his green card application filed in mid-2025.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Culleton recounted that he had no idea where he was being taken. He spent five days crammed into a small cell with others before being flown to an ICE facility in Buffalo, New York.

There, an immigration officer asked him to sign paperwork agreeing to deportation. Culleton refused and chose to challenge his arrest. He was later flown to the El Paso, Texas, center, where he says he has been confined in the same room with more than 70 other men.

Harsh conditions in detention

Culleton described a climate of “anxiety and depression,” with occasional fights over meager food rations, dirty bathrooms, and only a few instances of being allowed outside for fresh air in five months.

Government response

In a November hearing, a judge approved Culleton’s release on a $4,000 bond. Despite his wife paying the bond, U.S. authorities reportedly revoked it without explanation.

The New York Times reported that federal courts are overwhelmed with ICE bond hearings, noting that judges have found the Trump administration ignored established legal interpretations that require bond consideration for many detained immigrants.

“My whole life is here in the US. I worked so hard to build my business. My wife is here,,” Culleton said, adding that he fears for his life at the ICE facility.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told CNN that Culleton entered the country in 2009 under the Visa Waiver Program, which allowed a 90-day stay, and overstayed.

“A pending green card application and work authorization do not grant someone legal status to remain in our country,” McLaughlin said, denying any inhumane conditions at ICE facilities.

ICE currently holds about 70,000 people, the highest number since the agency was created, far exceeding previous administrations. Recent data show roughly 74% of detainees have no criminal record.

Irish government expresses concern

“All countries have immigration policies, but these ICE facilities are a cause for concern,” said Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin regarding Culleton.

The number of Irish citizens requesting assistance with ICE issues in the U.S. rose from 65 in 2025 to one already in 2026, representing a 330% increase compared with the previous year, according to Irish lawmaker Neale Richmond. These figures include both those already deported and those in the deportation process but only reflect cases where citizens or families requested help.

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