Cliona Ward lauds her 'warrior' sister's fight against the US immigration system
Cliona Ward, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for almost three weeks after returning from a visit to Ireland has described her sister's efforts to get her out of jail as 'warrior' like.
Cliona Ward, 54, a green-card holder, who has been living legally there for around 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after arriving back in the US from a trip to Ireland to visit her ill father in Youghal, Co Cork.
Ms Ward, whose green card is valid until 2033, was detained and questioned by customs at the San Francisco airport on March 19 over her past criminal record. She was facing deportation by immigration officials.
Her prior criminal record includes six cases - two felonies for possession of drugs in December 2007 and January 2008, and four misdemeanours.
She and her sister Orla Holladay, who also lives in the US, claimed her convictions were expunged, prompting customs to temporarily release her to obtain the appropriate documentation to prove that her records had been cleared in California.
Campaigners gathered outside the detention centre, calling for the release of Cliona Ward. Picture: Facebook/iAmerica/SEIU2015
When she went to plead her case at San Francisco airport to customs on April 21 and present proof of her expungement, she was detained again and told to argue her case in front of an immigration judge. The expungement had been carried out at a state, not federal, level.
Ms Ward was released by a court in Seattle on May 7 after her original convictions were formally vacated so that they would be recognised at a federal level.
Her case has garnered huge media attention both here and in the US.
Her detention was linked in many quarters to the Trump administration's new get-tough policies on immigration and border control which made Ms Ward and her family fear she would be held in detention for many months while waiting for her case to be processed by the US immigration system.
In the aftermath of her release, US representative Jimmy Panetta said: "This case is an example of this administration doing the wrong thing when it comes to its over reaching deportation policies that can sweep up people like Cliona.'
In her first comments since her release, on a Gofundme page, Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom, Ms Ward called her sister 'my warrior, defender of justice" and added "could this be a calling for you?".
While thanking Ms Holladay she also acknowledged the public's help, support and financial donations. Almost $50,000 was raised.
'I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me and now continue to fight for justice served," Ms Ward continued.
'Everyone should have the opportunity to prove their innocence.
I love you so much my warrior, my defender, my sister, my anam cara. There is truly no one in the world like you and I am truly blessed.
Ms Ward claimed that those who are being detained by ICE "are not informed on how to get out and they are so afraid to speak up for the basic human rights...like how to find council (sic) or interpreter services..."
'They (officials) give them detention handbooks in English and Spanish only. All done on purpose to keep them detained and deportable.'
Ms Holladay, who is now looking after her sister following her release from jail, said Cliona "will reach out to all of you soon". "She is recovering from dental surgery and needs some time to heal both physically and emotionally," she added.
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