Irish man with American wife who has lived in US for years detained by Ice and forced to share cell with 'migrants who don't speak English' near Mexican border

Mr Culleton has been transported to various immigration facilities, whilst being embroiled in a legal battle against US immigration who want to deport him from a country he's been living in for decades.

The Irish national, who owns a plastering business, moved to the US roughly 20 years ago.

He was arrested by Ice on September 9 2025 despite having a Massachusetts driving licence and the correct work permit he received as part of his green card application.

Mr Culleton does not have a criminal record and had applied for permanent residency in the US in April 2025, to which he had one interview before told the process was complete.

Speaking to the Irish Times, he said: "I don't know how much more I can take."

He also called for the Irish Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to bring up his case with President Trump on his upcoming visit to the country.

After being held in ICE detention centres near Boston and then in New York state, Mr Culleton was flown to a facility near the Mexican border in Texas, where he was placed in a cell with over 70 men, most of whom don’t speak English.

He said: “It’s just a horrible, horrible, horrible place.

“I’m not in fear of the other inmates. I’m afraid of the staff. They’re capable of anything.”

Likening the detention centre to a “concentration camp”, he said due to the lack of food, fights often break out between inmates.

A judge has reportedly approved Mr Culleton’s release for $4,000 (£2,920) bond, which his wife, Tiffany Smyth, paid.

However, the Irish man remains detained, denying claims from Ice officers that he signed documents agreeing to his deportation.

He has requested for handwriting specialists to examine the signature on the document, alluding to it being forged.

Mr Culleton said on living in the United States: “My whole life is here. I worked so hard to build my business. My wife is here."

He said he talks to his wife "everyday", describing her as his "rock" and he also talks to his family back in Ireland "most days", who are very worried about him.

His lawyer, Ogre Winnie Okoye, speaking to the Telegraph, described Mr Culleton as a “model immigrant”.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland said: “Minister McEntee is aware of this case and of the consular assistance being provided to the citizen involved, and his family, by our Consulate General in Austin, Texas, and our consular unit in Dublin.

“Our embassy in Washington DC is also engaging directly with the Department of Homeland Security at a senior level in relation to this case.”