Irish Boston-area tradesman Seamus Culleton remains in ICE custody after September 2025 arrest and transfer to Texas

Detention after a Massachusetts stop

An Irish national who has been living in the Boston area for years has remained in federal immigration custody for about five months, following an arrest in Massachusetts on Sept. 9, 2025. The man, Seamus Culleton, entered the United States in 2009 under the Visa Waiver Program, which generally permits stays of up to 90 days. Federal officials say he overstayed that period.

Culleton is married to a U.S. citizen and has pursued a marriage-based immigration process. His attorney has said he had work authorization connected to that application and was awaiting a final interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when he was detained. The continued detention, his legal team argues, has prevented completion of that final step.

Transfers across multiple facilities

After his arrest, Culleton was held initially in Massachusetts before being moved through facilities outside the state, including in New York, and then transferred to a detention center in the El Paso, Texas, area. Family members have described difficulties maintaining contact during the early months of detention, with video visits becoming available only later.

Conflicting accounts of legal posture and status

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly described Culleton as being in the country unlawfully and has said that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal on Sept. 10, 2025. DHS has also asserted that a pending green card application and work authorization do not, by themselves, confer lawful status.

Culleton disputes the implication that he chose to remain in detention or consented to removal. His attorney has argued that the case reflects a breakdown in discretion and process, including disputes over documentation and the practical inability to complete the green card interview while in custody.

Allegations about detention conditions

From the Texas facility, Culleton has described limited access to outdoor time and concerns about food portions and general conditions. His wife has said his health appeared to deteriorate during detention, citing weight loss and changes in appearance during a video call.

DHS has rejected allegations of poor conditions, stating that federal detention standards exceed those in many U.S. prisons.

What remains unresolved

• Whether Culleton can be released while his marriage-based immigration process proceeds, including completion of the final interview.
• How immigration authorities and the courts will address disputes about paperwork, consent to removal, and the procedural history of the case.
• Whether the government will exercise discretion to allow the case to be adjudicated outside detention.

The central facts of the case remain uncontested: Culleton entered the U.S. in 2009, was arrested in Massachusetts on Sept. 9, 2025, and has been held in ICE custody for months while his family and legal team seek a path to release and adjudication.