Cliona W.: Green card holder for 40 years detained by ICE returning from Ireland
Cliona Ward, 54, who has lived legally in the U.S. for about 40 years, was detained after visiting her ill father in Ireland over old drug convictions she says were expunged. She is held in Tacoma awaiting a hearing.
Apr 2025San Francisco, CACountry of origin: Ireland

Cliona Ward, a 54-year-old Irish national who has legally resided in the United States for approximately 40 years, was detained by ICE after returning from a trip to Ireland where she visited her ill father. Ward, a green card holder, was questioned about criminal convictions from 2003-2008 related to drug possession charges. She claims these convictions were expunged. Ward is being held in an ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington, and is scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in Seattle to argue her case.
Timeline
Tags
Sources
- Irish woman detained by US immigration authority could be in prison
Waterford News·Apr 29, 2025·archived copy
- Cliona Ward: Irish woman held in US detention centre thanks ‘warrior’ sister
- Irish woman detained by US ICE after returning from visit to Ireland to appear in court - National News
Carlow Nationalist·May 7, 2025·archived copy
- Irish woman living legally in US for decades detained after visiting her father in Ireland
Loading…
More incidents in California
- Three parents arrested by ICE outside Van Nuys elementary schoolOct 21, 2026 · Van Nuys, CA
- Oakland man hospitalized with broken ribs after ICE tackles him to groundOct 21, 2026 · Oakland, CA
- Santa Rosa man pulled from car at gunpoint by ICE agentsOct 21, 2026 · Santa Rosa, CA
- ICE SUV strikes man filming agents' activity in Woodland, CaliforniaOct 20, 2026 · Woodland, CA
- Masked ICE agents slam San Francisco man to ground, breaking his glassesOct 19, 2026 · San Francisco, CA
- Milton R.R.: Salvadoran man held at gunpoint by ICE agent, claimed citizenshipOct 19, 2026 · San Francisco, CA