Cliona Ward, who has lived legally in US for decades, was returning from trip to Ireland when held over criminal record from 20 years ago

An Irish woman who was detained by US immigration authorities because of a criminal record dating back almost 20 years has been released after 17 days in custody.

Cliona Ward, 54, who has lived legally in the US for decades, emerged on Wednesday from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) facility at Tacomain Washington.

After visiting her sick father in Ireland she had been detained at San Francisco airport on 21 April, causing an outcry in Ireland and the US and a campaign for her release.

Last week a California judge agreed to an application for the original convictions to be formally overturned in a manner that would be recognised at a federal level, paving the way for her release, according to Ward’s lawyers.

  • celeste
    24•1 day ago

    Trump won the 2024 election on the promise of “the largest deportation operation in American history”, but few anticipated a crackdown on documented immigrants, including visa and green card holders and citizens who have the status by birth or naturalisation, or tourists.

    Plenty of people anticipated this. Who’s easier to deport when you want to get rid of a big number quickly? Someone living under the radar? Or someone who’s right on file and complies with orders to come in? And if there’s no due process, you can say they committed any crime you want to justify it. It’s not like morality or honesty would stop anyone involved in the process.