Irish woman detained in US in 'shock' and 'traumatised' after release
An Irish woman detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for almost three weeks after returning from a visit to Ireland, who was released from custody on Wednesday, has been left in "shock" and "traumatised", her sister has revealed.
Cliona Ward, 54, a green card holder who has been living legally in the US for around 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after arriving back in the States 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 San Francisco airport on March 19 over her past criminal record.
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.
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.
On Wednesday, Ms Ward's Washington state-based attorney Erin Hall said that an application was made in California on Friday last for the original convictions to be formally vacated in a manner that would be recognised at a federal level.
A California judge agreed to the application, which allowed Ms Hall to subsequently file a motion to terminate the immigration proceedings and signed an order ending the removal proceedings (from the US) against Ms Ward.
A GoFundme page has been set up by her sister, Orla, to cover legal costs.
Ms Ward, a mother of one son, appeared in court in Seattle at 8.30am local time (4.30pm Irish time) on Wednesday and in an update on the fundraising page, Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom, Ms Hollady, Orla said overnight: 'You guys.... Cliona is free.
"We walked into the room and the first thing she did was jump on the bed and hug the pillows. She is in shock; filled with emotions, traumatised, full of gratitude, fear for the women she left behind.'
Ms Holladay added: 'Cliona is finally in her own bed and we are all ready for some quiet and reflection… but at this point you can consider it an absolute and beautiful success - each of you have literally helped to save Cliona's life as she knows it and we love you for your humanity and kindness'.
The fundraising campaign raised almost €50,000.
Democrat California Congressman Jimmy Panetta, who has supported and been calling for Ms Ward's release, said in a statement on social media: "I'm proud to share that Cliona Ward, a 30-year legal permanent resident of Santa Cruz County, will be released after being detained and threatened with deportation.'
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