Latest news with #Cliona'sHope:AMother'sFightforFreedom
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
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 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
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.'
Sunday World
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Fundraiser launched for Irish woman detained by ICE after living legally in US for 30 years
'Her lawyer told her she may be in there for months while we fight for her release' A fundraising appeal has been launched for an Irish woman who was detained following a visit to her ill father in Ireland despite the fact she had been legally residing in the US for 30 years. Cliona Ward (54), who is originally from Dublin but has been living in Santa Cruz, California, was stopped by federal authorities and brought to a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility last week despite holding a valid permanent green card. Her family say Ward, who emigrated to the US when she was 12, was detained over minor offences from almost 20 years ago which they say have been expunged from her record. Ward was first stopped by customs officials in Seattle when she returned to the US after visiting her dying father in Ireland with her step-mother in March. The officials brought up her six minor offences which stretch from 2003 to 2008 and detained her for two days. The convictions include two felonies for possession of drugs and four misdemeanours for minor offences including "failure to notify DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles] of address change within 10 days'. They released her after she told them her convictions had been expunged and told her to get documentation and attend a meeting with customs officials in San Francisco last Monday week. However, when she turned up with the documents she was detained again and charged with moral turpitude. Her sister Orla Holladay said Ward who has been sober for almost 20 years currently works at a nonprofit Christian organisation teaching soil management and conservation to child. Describing her as a 'very private and gentle person who just wants to return to her quiet life', Orla said Cliona is facing months in detention. In an update on the 'Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom' GoFundMe page, Orla thanked all those who had helped so far. 'Her lawyer met with her today and it was both a relief for Cliona to know that she has representation but also very painful and scary when her lawyer told her she may be in there for months while we fight for her release. 'She said the water is undrinkable, the food is not fit to eat and her biggest consolation today was that her lawyer was able to bring her a pen. 'I'm exhausted and sick and it's hard to eat. Went back to my classroom today but it's so hard to focus. We fight again tomorrow for her freedom and bring awareness to all of the innocent detainees in these dentation centers.' Orla had previously written about how she 'woke with a very heavy and vulnerable heart thinking about Cliona sitting in a concrete jungle on May Day, a day when she would normally be out planting and taking care of this beautiful planet.' She told how she found out that when her sister had been taken off the plane in Tacoma 'officers handcuffed, shackled her and escorted her though the airport, like a hardened criminal'. 'She was mortified, shamed and demoralized,' Orla wrote, adding that the detention centre is 'worse than prison'. 'Visitors can't even bring her food, which she said is gross. 'She said that she has been really depressed but knowing people are keeping eyes on her lifted her again. She shared that 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.' Ward is a carer for her chronically ill adult son Malaki who is now being cared for by Holladay and his grandparents who are aged in their 80s. His birthday fell two days after Ward's detention. Ward is a legal permanent resident in the US but also retains Irish citizenship. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the case and providing consular assistance. 'As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.' The detention comes following a major crackdown on immigrants by ICE since Donald Trump's second presidency and a US politicians has described her detention as 'cruel and unreasonable' and 'appalling.' California US Representative Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat, said he was pressing customs officials for Ward's release. 'It is unimaginable that reportedly expunged, 20-year-old incident could be used as justification for deporting a legal permanent resident who is a productive member of our community.' 'But this is the cruel and unreasonable state of this Administration's deportation policy. As a former gang prosecutor, I understand and appreciate the need to remove hardened criminals from our communities, but the detention of Cliona Ward—now in her 50s and a Green Card holder—for decades-old crimes that have reportedly been expunged from her personal record is unfathomable and unacceptable." California State Assembly representative Gail Pellerin told the Santa Cruz Mercury that the case was 'a clear example … of the falsehood we're hearing from the (federal) administration that they're only going after, you know, hardened criminals who are here undocumented. 'Here they're clearly going after somebody who has been in this country, who has a green card, who 20 years ago had some offenses that were minor and she thought they were expunged from the record. But the fact that she is a person being held under this circumstance is just absolutely appalling.' Orla, meanwhile, told how Cliona's first court hearing will not take place until May 7. 'She's terrified, she's distraught, she's scared, she's worried about her son,' Holladay told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. 'She's just trying to hold it together. ''She's afraid that she's going to get lost in the system. That was the one thing she said to me: 'Please don't let me get lost.''
Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
Irish woman living legally in US for 30 years detained after visit to Ireland
A woman who has been living in the US for more than 30 years was taken into detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after she paid a visit to her sick father in Ireland. Cliona Ward, 54, went to the US in her early teens and has been residing in Santa Cruz, California , for over three decades. She recently traveled back to Ireland with her stepmother to visit their father, who has dementia. Upon her return, Ward was questioned about 20-year-old drug possession convictions that have reportedly been 'expunged' under state but not under federal law. Ward's sister told the Irish Times that despite holding a valid green card, Ward was held at the airport in San Francisco , for questioning. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way Read More Related Articles Trump loses the plot as he compares tariff flip-flop to running through a wall Ward was reportedly released, but when she returned to the airport last Monday to show documentation to officials from US Customs and Border Protection recording how the convictions had been expunged, she was taken into custody. According to the enforcement agency's website, Ward is being held in an ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington state. According to reports, she is due before the courts on May 7th. Ward reportedly returned several days later with the requested documentation and was taken into custody (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images) Orla Holladay, Ward's sister, set up a GoFundMe, to help with her sister's legal costs. Titled 'Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom,' it has already gathered around $22,500. In the description, she wrote that Ward is the sole carer for her son who is chronically ill. On Saturday, Holladay shared an update that she had spoken to Ward and that she was finding comfort in the other women at the detention center, who find themselves in a similar situation. 'She shared that, 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.' According to the Irish Times, Kenneth Cook McKnight, a school-mate of Ward's said: 'She had travelled multiple times back and forth to Ireland to see family over the years and never had a problem, until now, and obviously what is different now is the current political climate here, and the administration.' US Representative Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat from California, said in a statement it was 'unimaginable that a reportedly expunged, decades-old crime could be used as justification for deporting a legal permanent resident who is a productive member of our community.' Fears within the Irish immigrant community are rising, after the Trump administration launched their mass deportations. Thousands of individuals - both documented and undocumented - have been picked up by ICE since Trump took office in January. Lawyers are urging people to know their rights when traveling to and from the United States. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
