An Irish woman who has legally resided in the United States for four decades has been held in immigration detention for over a week due to criminal convictions from nearly 20 years ago, raising concerns about heightened immigration enforcement practices.
Cliona Ward, 54, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at San Francisco International Airport on April 21 after returning from visiting her ailing father in Ireland. She is currently being held at an ICE detention facility in Tacoma, Washington.
Despite possessing a green card, Ward’s detention stems from drug possession convictions dating back to 2007 and 2008, which her family maintains she believed had been expunged from her record.
The case has prompted diplomatic intervention, with Irish Taoiseach Micheรกl Martin expressing concern about the situation.
“Where people have green cards and citizenship rights, there shouldn’t be an issue,” Martin told RTร on Monday. “We will be pursuing this on a bilateral basis to make sure that those who are legitimately entitled to be in the US are free from any challenges or difficulties of this kind.”
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Ward.
Ward immigrated to the United States as a child from Dublin and has built her life in America, graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She currently works for a non-profit organization, pays taxes, and serves as the caregiver for her chronically ill son, who is a U.S. citizen, according to her sister Orla Holladay.
Court documents reviewed by Newsweek indicate Ward’s record includes two felonies for drug possession and four misdemeanors. Holladay explained these convictions stem from a period when her sister struggled with addiction, though she has maintained sobriety for approximately two decades.
“She has a criminal past, but she’s not a criminal. She’s a person with a painful past,” Holladay told Newsweek.
A crowdfunding campaign launched to secure legal representation for Ward has already raised over $23,000. In the appeal, Holladay emphasized that her sister had fulfilled all requirements to make amends for her past offenses and had become a valued community member.
“She did everything she was supposed to do in order to make reparations,” Holladay wrote. “Cliona is a very private and gentle person, who wants nothing more than to return to her quiet life.”
Prior to this incident, Ward had frequently traveled between the U.S. and Ireland without encountering issues. Her recent troubles began earlier this year when she accompanied her stepmother to Ireland to visit her father, who suffers from dementia. Upon returning to the U.S., she was stopped at Seattle airport on March 19 and detained for three days.
After being released to gather documentation regarding her allegedly expunged convictions, Ward presented these documents to ICE officials at San Francisco airport on April 21, at which point she was detained again and transferred to the Tacoma facility.
According to Holladay, Ward was shackled during transport and has found conditions at the detention center to be harsh. “Although she can’t speak with the majority of the women in there because most don’t speak English, they have been giving each other support and there are lots of tears and hugs between the women,” she said.
Ward’s immigration hearing is scheduled for May 7, and Seattle-based attorney Erin Hall was set to conduct an initial consultation with her on Monday.
U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) has spoken out about the case, calling it “unfathomable” that reportedly expunged, decades-old crimes could be used to deport a legal permanent resident who has been a productive community member.
Ward’s case comes amid what appears to be increased scrutiny of both documented and undocumented immigrants. Critics point to other recent high-profile cases, including the two-week detention of Canadian national Jasmine Mooney over work visa issues, German tourist Jessica Brรถsche’s six-week detention including time in solitary confinement, and British graphic artist Rebecca Burke’s three-week ordeal following a visa misunderstanding.
These incidents have raised concerns about the impact of stricter immigration enforcement policies on legal residents, visitors, and even U.S. citizens.
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