00:00An Irish lawmaker has criticized U.S. immigration enforcement during remarks before European
00:04officials, accusing the administration of using immigration law as a political tool.
00:08The comments drew attention to an individual case that has sparked international debate
00:12and raised broader questions about detention practices and deportation decisions involving
00:16long-term residents of the United States. Irish Member of the European Parliament Billy Kelleher
00:21highlighted the situation of Seamus Culleton, a Kilkenny native who has lived and worked in
00:25the U.S. for more than 16 years. According to statements from family members and public
00:30officials, Culleton was arrested by federal immigration authorities in September and has
00:34remained in custody at a detention facility in Texas while his case proceeds through the
00:38legal system. During his address, Kelleher said the detention reflected wider concerns about
00:43immigration enforcement policies and alleged human rights issues. He described Culleton as
00:48a small business owner married to a U.S. citizen who had been working toward regularizing his
00:52immigration status before his arrest. The lawmaker said he had raised the case with Ireland's
00:57Taoiseach, Michael Martin, who told Parliament that the government would pursue diplomatic efforts
01:01to assist while acknowledging that each immigration case involves unique legal complexities.
01:07Culleton's wife, Tiffany Smith, has spoken publicly about the incident, saying she received a brief
01:11call informing her that he had been taken into custody and that she did not hear from him again
01:15for several days. She described his detention conditions as extremely difficult and emphasized that he had
01:21no known criminal record. Separately, federal immigration official Tom Homan announced plans
01:25to scale down a recent enforcement surge, saying a gradual drawdown had already begun and would
01:30continue in the coming weeks following an operational review. International observers and advocacy groups
01:35continue monitoring the situation, noting that cases involving long-term residents often draw
01:39diplomatic attention and public debate. U.S. authorities have not released extensive public details
01:44about Culleton's proceedings, citing privacy and legal considerations. Immigration enforcement,
01:49detention standards, and cross-border cooperation are expected to remain central topics in political
01:54discussions on both sides of the Atlantic in the coming months. Follow for more political updates.
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