Irishman facing deportation from America has been “jailed without warning”

A Cork man was arrested by ICE officers in America on Wednesday, 10 July.

An Irishman has been imprisoned in the US “without warning” by immigration officials is being treated like a criminal, his wife has said.

Reports emerged on Sunday of the arrest of a man who has spent almost 10 years working to secure his citizenship in Philadelphia. Keith Byrne, from Fermoy in Cork, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Wednesday, 10 July. According to RTÉ, the married father-of-three has been living in the US for 12 years and runs a painting business over there. Since marrying his American wife in 2009, they have been in the process of adjusting his status, but have been met with regular refusals.

https://t.co/SMUlZJEaq5. #helpkb My uncle Keith byrne is one of the most caring and loving people I know he dosent deserve this he has worked to hard he a loving step father a father and a husband please help my uncle by sending a donation

— Dion Od (@a3829dc5e7424cb) July 13, 2019

The most recent refusal came earlier this year but Mrs Byrne said they had "no intention of accepting that". Byrne was previously convicted in Ireland on a minor drugs possession charge, which Mrs Byrne believes is the reason his applications to remain in the country have been denied. She said he has been extremely honest about his previous conviction, and "that's why they could find him so easily, we weren't hiding him". A major ICE deportation raid was due to start this weekend, with ICE agents reportedly targeting 2,000 immigrants for deportation across 10 major cities. The raid could also sweep up immigrants who aren’t the initial targets.