By Trendsetter Tribune 
As of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the case of Seamus Culleton has ignited a firestorm in Irish politics, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin facing intense pressure to intervene during his upcoming St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House.
Culleton, a 45-year-old plastering contractor from Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, remains in an El Paso, Texas detention center where he has been held for five months. Despite holding a valid U.S. work permit and having a clean record, his case highlights what his lawyer calls “capricious and inept” enforcement under the current administration’s aggressive deportation push.
Key Developments in the Case
New details emerged today regarding the legal and physical reality of Culleton’s detention:
- The Bond Reversal: In November 2025, an immigration judge approved Culleton’s release on a $4,000 bond. His wife paid the amount immediately, but ICE summarily overturned the order, citing unspecified “procedural issues.”
- Forgery Allegations: Culleton’s attorney, Ogor Winnie Okoye, alleges that ICE officials produced documents in court with signatures they claim belong to Culleton agreeing to deportation. Culleton denies ever signing such papers and is demanding a handwriting expert and video evidence of his interview.
- The “Concentration Camp” Description: Culleton described his living quarters as a tent shared with 71 other men, citing “filthy” sanitation, child-sized food portions, and an atmosphere of “psychological and physical torture.” His sister, Caroline, reports he has suffered hair loss, sores, and significant weight loss due to the conditions.
Political Fallout in Ireland
The Irish government confirmed today that Culleton is one of five to six Irish citizens currently known to be in ICE detention, a sharp rise that has alarmed the Department of Foreign Affairs.
| Official Response | Action Taken |
| Taoiseach Micheál Martin | Confirmed he received a formal White House invite on Feb 6; says officials are in “communication with the administration” regarding the case. |
| Minister Helen McEntee | Described the situation as “really distressing” and urged any other Irish citizens in similar positions to contact embassy teams. |
| Opposition (Labour/SF) | Labour Leader Ivana Bacik pressed the Taoiseach in the Dáil today to make Culleton’s release a “non-negotiable” part of his March 17th meeting with President Trump. |
The White House Visit: A “High-Stakes” Shamrock Ceremony
The controversy comes at a delicate time. While President Trump formally invited Martin to the White House to celebrate the “special relationship” and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Republic, the visit is being overshadowed by:
- Trade Tensions: Trump’s threats of tariffs against European and Canadian allies.
- Deportation Surges: A 330% jump in Irish deportations in 2025.
- The “Greenland” Rhetoric: Ongoing diplomatic friction over U.S. Arctic policy.
Advocates argue that Culleton’s detention—preventing him from attending his final green card interview—is a violation of the “due process” Trump’s own judicial appointees have upheld in other contexts.