There are approximately “five to six” cases involving Irish citizens currently being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the Taoiseach, reports Breaking News.
Micheál Martin said the cases “vary in terms of status” but stressed that the Government would do everything possible to assist Seamus Culleton, who has been in ICE detention since September, reports Breaking News.
Mr Culleton, who is from Co Kilkenny, has lived in the United States for almost 20 years and is married to a US citizen.
He was driving home from work when he was detained by ICE officers in September 2025, reports Breaking News.
Mr Culleton said he held a valid work permit but was nonetheless arrested and transferred from Massachusetts to an ICE detention centre in El Paso, Texas.
He has described the conditions at the facility as “horrible”, comparing it to a “modern-day concentration camp”, reports Breaking News.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said the situation facing Mr Culleton was “really distressing” and confirmed that her department’s officials are supporting his family.
Asked on Tuesday whether she was aware of other similar cases involving Irish people who had a right to be in the US but were detained by ICE, she said: “I am aware of a small number of cases where people have directly reached out to our embassy teams,” reports Breaking News.
Ms McEntee added: “If there are other people in that type of scenario, please engage with our teams – we’re there to support them,” reports Breaking News.
Mr Martin later told the Dáil that Irish authorities were aware of between five and six such cases.
Mr Culleton said he would like the Taoiseach to raise his case with US President Donald Trump when he visits the White House in March for St Patrick’s Day, reports Breaking News.
When asked whether he would do so, Mr Martin told reporters on Tuesday that Government officials would assess what further steps could be taken in “communication with the administration”.
He said officials have been engaging with local authorities and ICE regarding Mr Culleton’s case, reports Breaking News.
Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting in Dublin, the Taoiseach said: “We will see what more – with the Minister for Foreign Affairs – what we can do in terms of our communication with the administration.
“I fully empathise with the position he is in, he has been in the United States quite a long time, he’s married there.
“I’m not clear on the full background to it, but certainly we would like to see him out of that facility,” reports Breaking News.
Asked if he had wider concerns about the US administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, Mr Martin said the Government has long been concerned about undocumented Irish citizens across successive US administrations.
He said there is now a crackdown in the US in terms of the enforcement of migration laws, which is a concern due to its impact on undocumented Irish people, reports Breaking News.
Mr Martin said the Government’s approach has been to pursue legal pathways to regularise the status of Irish and US citizens living in America.
He said living in the US without legal status is a “very difficult and dangerous” situation, reports Breaking News.
The Taoiseach added that it has been challenging to reach “consensus on the Hill”, as different countries lobby US lawmakers on migration issues.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris said this is an “extremely stressful time” for Mr Culleton and his family, reports Breaking News.
Asked whether Mr Martin should raise the matter with President Trump, Mr Harris said: “I take the point that’s made about what may or may not happen on March 17th, I would just make the point, there’s a fair whack of time to go between now and March 17th, and certainly Ireland and Irish authorities, through our diplomatic channels, will be continuing to engage, to make the point, to make their representations between now and then. Of course, then the Taoiseach and the Government will judge where that’s at,” reports Breaking News.
Asked the same question, Ms McEntee said “there is always a time and a place” to raise individual cases, adding: “I have no doubt the Taoiseach will give it consideration, but it is important to stress we are already providing assistance to Seamus,” reports Breaking News.
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