Irish woman living in US detained after travelling to Ireland to visit sick dad
An Irish woman who has been living in the US for decades was detained by border agents after returning from a trip to Ireland to visit her sick father.
Cliona Ward was initially stopped in Seattle last month after attempting to return to the US following a trip to Ireland with her step-mother so they could be with her father, who is currently battling dementia.
Living in Santa Cruz in California for 30 years, the 54-year old Irish woman is a permanent legal resident in the US, with a valid green card and had reportedly emigrated to the States when she was just 12 years old.
Cliona was kept at the airport for a number of days owing to an allegedly expunged criminal conviction from two decades ago.
She was then released so that she could bring officials the necessary documents, to prove that her records had been expunged, at San Francisco International Airport.
According to the US publication Newsweek, Cliona's previous convictions include two felonies involving possession of drugs and four misdemeanours.
But after showing up to the airport last Monday, April 21, she was detained by agents and is currently being held at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Centre in Washington.
"She has a criminal past, but she's not a criminal. She's a person with a painful past," her sister Orla Holladay told Newsweek.
She added: "Those court cases are from 20-plus years ago. She has been completely sober for 20-plus years...the reality of the felony is that she was an addict and she was picked up for possessing the poison that she was putting into her own body."
A fundraiser has been launched following Cliona's detention, raising almost €20,000 for the "private and gentle" Irish woman and her family so they can retain a lawyer to fight this "nightmare".
Her sister wrote in a post on GoFundMe: "She did everything she was supposed to do in order to make reparations for that criminal conviction, and has been gainfully employed, paying taxes, and building a family in Santa Cruz."
She added: "She [has] lived in Sacramento, attended UCSC and has built a life here. She has a son who is chronically ill who depends on her for care-giving.
"She followed all of the instructions given to her by CBP for this supposed administrative meeting today, which was, in reality, an effort to take her into custody.
"Cliona is a very private and gentle person, who wants nothing more than to return to her quiet life.
"Please help her family secure the funds to retain a lawyer who can help her through this nightmare, and return her to her family and community as soon as possible. You are appreciated."
So far the GoFundMe has raised $22,385 (€19,699) out of the $30,000 (€26,408) target. To donate to the fundraiser, head here.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the Irish government is "concerned" about this case.
He told the Irish Mirror: "We are concerned about that case. Obviously, our consular officials and our consulate general in San Fran, that's where we'll be supporting and facilitating Cliona and the family to get this issue resolved.
"When issues like this arise from time to time, our officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs engage with a view to getting the issues resolved.
"Our advice is consistent in terms of where people have green cards, for example, or citizenship rights, there shouldn't be an issue.
"We will be pursuing it 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.
"I need to get a fuller report as there are some reports of other incidents like this. This is something we will take up with the US in bilateral meetings."
The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Mirror they are aware of the case and are providing consular assistance.
A spokesperson said: "The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases."
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