An Irish man, Seamus Culleton, has been detained by U.S. immigration officials for nearly five months, despite his claims of holding a valid U.S. work permit and having a pending green card application as the spouse of an American citizen. Culleton, who has resided in the United States for almost two decades, expressed grave concerns about his safety and the conditions at the ICE detention facility where he is being held in El Paso, Texas.
Currently located at the El Paso Camp East Montana, a facility within the Fort Bliss Army Base, Culleton described the environment as a “nightmare” during a phone interview with the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. He stated, “You don’t know what’s going to happen on a day-to-day basis. You don’t know if there’s going to be riots.” The facility is described by Culleton as consisting of “a bunch of temporary tents,” with detainees experiencing limited access to outdoor time and inadequate meals.
Culleton reported that he has had little opportunity for fresh air or sunlight during his detention. “We get three meals a day, very very small meals — kid size meals, so everybody is hungry,” he said. He criticized the sanitation conditions, describing the toilets and showers as “completely nasty” and “very rarely cleaned.”
In response to these allegations, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied claims regarding the conditions at the facility. Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS, stated that Culleton’s assertions were “FALSE,” claiming that ICE maintains higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons. McLaughlin confirmed that Culleton was arrested on September 9, 2025, labeling him as “an illegal alien from Ireland” who had overstayed his entry under the tourist visa waiver program.
McLaughlin further explained that Culleton had received due process and had a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge the day after his arrest. She noted that he was offered the opportunity to return to Ireland immediately but chose to remain in ICE custody.
Under current U.S. immigration laws, DHS has the authority to detain individuals with pending immigration applications if they lack permanent immigration status. Despite having a pending green card application and a valid work permit, Culleton found himself among the approximately 10,000 undocumented Irish immigrants estimated to be living in the U.S., many of whom have overstayed their visas.
Culleton recounted the circumstances of his arrest, stating that he was stopped by federal agents while driving home after visiting a store. He described the incident as overwhelming, with multiple law enforcement vehicles surrounding him. “They asked me if I had a green card. I said I didn’t. I said I was married to a citizen and that I had a marriage-based petition in place,” he detailed, but his explanations appeared to be disregarded.
The Irish government has acknowledged Culleton’s situation and is providing consular assistance to him and his family. A spokesperson for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that they are engaged with DHS at a senior level concerning his case.
In December 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups issued a letter calling for the closure of the El Paso Camp East Montana, citing a pattern of alleged abuses, including physical mistreatment and inadequate access to medical care.
As Culleton continues to navigate his uncertain situation, the treatment of detainees in U.S. immigration facilities remains a contentious issue, drawing scrutiny from both human rights organizations and governmental bodies.
