Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee must immediately intervene in the case of Irish man Seamus Culleton’s detention by ICE in the US, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson said:
“Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention in the US since September of last year and has been subject to human rights abuses – including limited access to food, being held in filthy cells with up to 70 other men, and severely restricted access to outside space.
“Seamus has been residing legally in the US for 20 years, has no criminal convictions, is married to a US citizen, and has a valid work permit. He is in the process of applying for a Green Card.
“By all accounts, an Irish citizen is being subject to human rights violations by the US state; I am deeply concerned about the conditions under which he is being held and his access to due process.
“The detention of an Irish citizen by a foreign state should be a priority consulate issue for the Department of Foreign Affairs to resolve. However, I have heard directly from Seamus’ family that consulate support has not been forthcoming, which is why they have been forced to go public with his case.
“I have written to Minister McEntee to urge immediate action to free Seamus from the abhorrent conditions of his detention – violating human rights used to mean something, but now our government is acting as if it is not an urgent matter.
“Seamus’ family members have noticed a huge change in his mental and physical health after almost six months of his detention – they are in a state of deep distress and should receive immediate assistance.
“What is the coalition doing to ensure that the many Irish citizens living their lives in the US are safe there? Seamus was kept from seeing sunlight for four weeks and has been kept in the same cell for four months – this case should be a national priority.”
February 9th, 2026