Irish voices from the US: How recent events are making them feel
Regan Kelly
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been featured in global news regularly over the past few weeks, often for negative reasons.
There have been many controversies, and discussions around deaths and detention centres have been regularly featured in global news.
In Ireland, we saw the story of Kilkenny man Seamus Culleton, who was picked up by ICE last September and sent to a detention centre in Texas.
In an interview with RTÉ’s Liveline, Seamus described what it was like at the centre, saying: “It is a nightmare down here. I have barely any outside time, no fresh air, no sunshine.”
This hasn’t come without its own controversy, though. The story of Seamus Culleton took a turn when it was discovered that a bench warrant had been issued for his arrest in 2009, before he relocated to the US.
Along with this, one of his daughters had claimed that this was a “mess of his own making”.
The story is ongoing, but it has caused many talking points across the country, with the Taoiseach saying that there had been a few cases of Irish people being detained by ICE.
Despite all the controversy surrounding this case, Seamus’s situation in the US is very similar to that of thousands of other Irish people living there.
Although the numbers have fallen dramatically since the 1980s, many Irish people remain undocumented, and this is causing some concern for them and their families.
As Irish people, we have a well-documented and long-established relationship with emigration, especially to the US.
Millions of Irish people have immigrated to the US. The famine saw thousands arrive at US ports alone.
Nothing would ever come close to the famine era's numbers, but it would continue at a significant pace into the 20th century.
The most recent mass exodus happened in the 1980s, as Ireland experienced a severe recession.
Many of these immigrants who arrived in the US did so legally, but a huge number were undocumented due to overstaying visas; this had become somewhat of a trend at the time.
For some of these undocumented Irish, visas were announced that would allow them to get Green Cards or at least stay legally.
These include the Berman Visa, Morrison Visas and the Donnelly Visa; some of these would work on a lottery system.
We spoke to one Irishman who availed of one of these visas, discussing the current situation in America and his thoughts on it.
Like thousands of others, Gerry Browne left Westmeath for New York in the 1980s, looking to create a better life for himself.
Gerry said: “In the 80s, things were pretty bleak in Ireland, unemployment was very high, and if you had a job, which I had, the pay was very low and there wasn't much future there.
“My brother went out in 1985, and he had a flooring business out there, and I decided I was going out to him as soon as I could.
“I was just short of turning 18 by a month or two, and off I went.”
Like many others, Gerry went to America with nothing but hope and just took a chance.
He ended up getting his Green Card, but worked hard to secure it.
Gerry said, “Like everyone else at the time, I just flew out and stayed, and that was it.
“I was there four years before I got the chance to get a Green Card. I applied for the Morrison visa at the time and had to fly back to Ireland, which was the first time I had been home in four years.
“Getting the Green Card was probably the best thing that ever happened to me; it just meant that I could finally put down roots here and start doing things the right way.”
Those early days were hard for Gerry, but no different from what many Irish people did at the time.
Gerry explained what it was like: “I started off with my brother doing the floors, but you then move from job to job to get a bit of better money and opportunities.
“Things have changed a lot since then. People didn't pay tax, we didn't have insurance or anything, these things have all changed, and nobody can live like that in the digital world.”
Gerry was part of a generation that flocked to the US in the 1980s, and with that, he has witnessed firsthand the changes that have come throughout the years.
Many of those Irish made it their goal to become legal and get a Green Card, as Gerry did.
Not everyone was lucky enough to become legal, and he has sympathy for those who weren't.
“I know a lot of lads who got Green Cards in different ways, either through marriage or whatever. But I always encouraged people to get a Green Card because you don't realise how trapped you are when you can't go anywhere.
“You are always looking over your shoulder and living in the shadows. If people have done everything they can, I have sympathy for that person.”
The number of undocumented Irish people has dwindled, and Gerry has seen that in real time.
“From what I have seen, most of the lads working specific trades nowadays are not Irish; there are very few left from Ireland coming here any more.
“There's even less illegal Irish here these days, it's mostly people from South America, so Irish people just don't exist any more in the pool of labour that's out there.”
Gerry argues that the reality regarding ICE raids in the US is quite different to stories being portrayed on the news in Europe.
He said: “I have a two-family house in Ossining in New York, which is a big South American area, and I know a lot of people there, and some of them are tenants.
“These people tell me different stories, and they would see it on the ground. There are indeed ICE raids, but they aren't coming to gather up people off the street.
“The reality is, they are going after people who, for the most part, have problems in their background that people are not aware of, so it might seem like they are picking up a normal guy that's walking down the street or coming home from work, but there is likely a warrant out for him or something like that.
“Some people are getting caught up in it, no doubt about it.”
Gerry looked back on what it was like in the past, looking back at the differences he has seen since arriving.
He said, “I remember back to when I was here illegally, that same thing was going on, but it just kind of stopped happening in the late 90s or 2000s.
“Now it's just gone bananas; they are really enforcing it now, but it’s always been there; enforcement of it just stopped back then.
“When we first arrived, we were the enemy; even Irish Americans would have turned you in back then.
“People figured, you’re white, and you speak English, so you are probably here legally, and you just had to let them believe that, you didn’t want to pop your head up.”
Gerry elaborated on what he has seen in America, compared to what is being reported around the world.
He said, “I can see the paranoia that it is creating for people, but I don't think they are picking people off the street just like that, and sending them to places down in Texas for no reason. Although there are definitely people getting caught up.
"I hear lots of wild things now, but maybe I’m just too close to the flame to see the fire.
“I don't see these things here, but you know, it may be that where there’s smoke there’s fire, but I do think there is some exaggeration to it.”
Like so much in the modern world, views have become polarised. For Irish people in the US like Gerry, it may seem exaggerated, but for others and their families, it may be a serious cause for concern.
For some people, there is a rightful cause for anger, fear and panic, as we have seen the events involving ICE play out in real time.
Across all titles at Celtic Media Group, we called out to Irish people who live in the US, with one simple question in mind: how is the current situation making you feel?
Below are some of the responses we received.
Karen, Illinois.
“I have been living in the USA for 5 years, moved here on the K1 visa to marry my now husband. Even our journey here hasn't been easy. Despite going through the US immigration system legally, in March 2020, citing Covid the US embassy cancelled my visa interview in Dublin.
"Fearing that my paperwork would run out in November and that I would have to file for the K1 visa again, I joined a lawsuit with other stuck K1 visa petitioners. (Milligan vs. Pompeo).
"The judge in this case forced the Department of State to give me an interview. After interviewing in December 2020 and finally getting my visa on January 6th, 2021 (same day as the insurrection), I found out that I couldn't travel directly to the States despite having the visa (Europeans were banned from travelling directly to the USA at the time), I had to quarantine in Mexico for 15 days.
“After arriving in the States in February 2021, I wasn't able to work until I got my green card in September 2021.
“After two years, you have to petition for a 10-year green card, as marriage-based cases are only given 2-year temporary green cards. I filed for the ten year green card in June of 2023. I am still waiting for my 10-year green card. My current one expired in September 2023.
“Despite doing everything legally and by the book, I live in fear of ICE detaining me. You are supposed to carry your green card, and in my case, a piece of paper that extends your expired green card. These are extremely important documents, and if you lose or misplace them, it's a nightmare to be able to replace them. Most times, I carry copies because I have ADHD and I misplace things often. This could get me in trouble.
“I think with the US immigration system, the cruelty is the point. It punishes legal immigrants every step of the way. Couple that with the growing racism, the violence from federal officers, and misinformation that we see on the news, it's all very scary.”
Alan, Miami.
“I arrived in Miami in 1989, a green card holder for a year, and genuinely waited until 2018 to become a citizen. I waited so due to tedious paperwork, dating girlfriend 30 years and when Trump got elected first time she cried, looked at me and said I was part of the problem as a non-citizen couldn't vote, her look and comment made me ashamed, so expedited the process and became a citizen, why did I wait, seriously maybe lazy, took residency for granted, never saw the threat.
“I am a progressive liberal, I am the CFO of a non-profit healthcare organisation, so done well, great life, now 64 and feel anxiety most days, friends I have loved have distanced themselves from me, maybe it goes both ways, freedom of speech is genuinely curtailed, I fear for the future.
“Yesterday I met 4 ladies from Derry at my local in Miami, 50's to 60's with their daughters, visiting on holiday, their joy was amazing, they have the craic I have lost or had stolen from me!!!”
Renee, Delaware.
“We live a good, hardworking life.
“My Son is a Private First Class. He finished Army Basic Training and has been learning and training as a network communication system specialist in the National Guard. He is about to Graduate Advanced Individual Training in a couple of days, and will be home for good after 8 months away. Then he will work as a National Guard member in his field.
“Even he is worried as my kids have dual Citizenship because the possibility of having to select only one citizenship country has been mentioned in the news.
“And whilst I have a Green Card, living under the current Government is terrifying. I’m happy as an Irish Citizen and haven’t planned on becoming an American Citizen. The current situation is now making me question if I need to do this to feel safe.
“I’m currently battling some severe health conditions. I’ve just got over Sepsis for the second time in a few months, and I have a Central Line in my chest. I receive TPN (IV nutrition), and if I were detained, this would drastically put my life at risk. Even for just a week, let alone the months people have been detained.
“One of my conditions is Adrenal insufficiency, so I don’t make Cortisol, I’m steroid dependent. It causes an adrenal crisis if a person is under extreme stress, physical, emotional, or even psychological.
"It is fatal if a person doesn’t receive a certain medication within 12 hours. And the Crisis causes 10/10 bone, skeletal, head, neck and limb pain.
“Dangerous, blood pressure levels, severe glucose, electrolyte imbalances, convulsions, confusion and passing out.
“I came legally, have my permanent resident green card, and I haven’t even received a traffic ticket. In the current situation, it doesn't seem to matter- they are going after everyone.
“We are afraid to type anyone’s name on our social media accounts, as freedom of speech has absolutely been affected.
“People are being arrested for what they post.
“People are being arrested for recording ice, and it’s legal to do both. How is it not retaliatory for what they are saying or posting?
“I’m not talking threats, I’m talking having an opinion is now dangerous. People are being blackmailed by the government. Delete this, or we will fine you or arrest you, and the problem is that no matter what happens, there are no consequences. As you can already see, taking someone’s life in front of the world doesn’t get you in trouble if you say you are taking orders from the president.
“But if you record it, talk about it online, you can be targeted and arrested regardless of your situation or status. How does it take being arrested and detained for weeks to verify if you are a legal resident or a citizen?
“I learned growing up that it’s better to respect, not fear, those governing you.
"I only see fear.
“So yes- we are all afraid.”
Bernard, Washington.
“We recently returned from the US and are currently settling in to Castlebar. We are both retired after 25 years working in the greater Seattle area. We have a 33-year-old daughter who is still living and working in the same area.
“We are a little concerned about the political situation in America and would love for her to relocate back to Ireland. She is an Irish citizen and a green card holder. We also have two other daughters who left the US two years ago and are currently living and working in Galway.”
Mark, Connecticut.
"I moved to the US in 2012 legally. I’m married to a US citizen and living as a permanent resident. I never did my citizenship after the 10 years, so now I have to renew my green card this October, as it only lasts for 13 years.
“I have some traffic violations, which made me get detained for a small amount of time in Dublin airport when travelling back from Cavan from my grandfather's funeral last February.
“Since that I’ve been afraid to leave the county again and hope that everyone stays well and safe until I and 1000s of other legal permanent residents feel safe again in the place we call our home.”