BOSTON (Azat TV) – Irish-American lawyers and politicians are urging undocumented immigrants to avoid St. Patrick’s Day festivities across the United States next month, citing fears that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could target the celebrations. These warnings come amid an intensifying federal crackdown on undocumented individuals, underscored by the ongoing and widely publicized detention of Irishman Seamus Culleton, whose case has become a focal point for immigrant rights advocates.
Culleton, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, was arrested by ICE agents in September during what was described as a random immigration sweep at a hardware store in the Boston area. He has since been held in a Texas detention center for over five months, describing the conditions as akin to “a concentration camp.” His attorney contends that while Culleton had previously been undocumented after overstaying a visa waiver program entry in 2009, he was married to a U.S. citizen and was in the final stages of applying for a Green Card, possessing a valid work permit at the time of his arrest.
Seamus Culleton’s Detention Fuels Immigrant Fears
The highly visible detention of Seamus Culleton has galvanized calls for caution among immigrant communities. Culleton’s experience, including being “cuffed and shackled,” has resonated deeply, prompting attorneys and community leaders to issue stark warnings ahead of one of the largest public celebrations in the U.S. His case has become a symbol of the aggressive enforcement tactics employed by ICE, sparking concerns that St. Patrick’s Day events could become prime locations for further arrests.
U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) has strongly refuted Culleton’s characterization of detention facilities, calling his statements “gross.” In a public statement on X, DHS claimed Culleton had been in the U.S. illegally for 16 years and asserted that it was his “choice” to remain in detention for five months after being issued a final deportation order and afforded full due process. The department encouraged “every illegal alien to take advantage of the CBP Home app to self-deport and have the opportunity to come back to our nation the RIGHT way.”
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations: A Potential Target?
The warnings regarding St. Patrick’s Day are rooted in past enforcement patterns. James P. Cavanaugh, an attorney and county commissioner in Omaha, Nebraska, recalled “considerable fear” during last year’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations, when ICE agents reportedly descended on public events. He cautioned that individuals with “not perfect documentation would be very, very leery to go out to St Patrick’s Day,” acknowledging the massive turnout of Irish and Irish-Americans nationwide. Cavanaugh emphasized ICE’s “very aggressive” approach, noting their history of refusing to step back from public events even when causing disruption.
Labour Party TD and foreign affairs spokesman Duncan Smith echoed these concerns, stating that the possibility of Irish people being targeted during the upcoming festivities is a real concern. Smith suggested that the Irish diaspora might be more visible and open within their communities during St. Patrick’s Day events, potentially increasing their exposure to enforcement actions.
Rising Deportations and Official Defiance
Official figures underscore the intensifying crackdown. The number of Irish citizens deported from the U.S. has soared by nearly 80% in the last year, with 107 removals between October 1, 2024, and September 13, 2025. Additionally, 12 Irish citizens were in ICE custody as of November 23 last year, highlighting a consistent pattern of increased enforcement. These statistics, combined with the high-profile nature of cases like Seamus Culleton’s, contribute to a pervasive climate of fear within undocumented communities.
The U.S. government maintains that its actions are lawful and necessary to uphold immigration laws, while immigrant advocates argue that the aggressive tactics and rhetoric create an environment of terror and separate families. The call for undocumented individuals to avoid public gatherings like St. Patrick’s Day underscores the deep apprehension within these communities regarding their visibility and safety in the current enforcement climate.
The ongoing detention of Seamus Culleton and the stark warnings for St. Patrick’s Day festivities reflect a significant escalation in U.S. immigration enforcement, compelling undocumented communities to weigh participation in public life against the heightened risk of arrest and deportation.