Donna H.B.: Irish grandmother held 5 months by ICE over decade-old checks
Donna Hughes-Brown, 59, who has lived in the U.S. since age 11, was detained for five months over two decade-old bounced checks totaling under $80. She was released before Christmas and reunited with family in Missouri.
Dec 23, 2025IrelandCountry of origin: Ireland

Donna Hughes-Brown, a 59-year-old Irish citizen who has lived in the U.S. since age 11 (47 years), was detained by ICE in July 2025 upon returning to Chicago from a trip to Ireland visiting relatives. She was held on moral turpitude charges tied to two overdrawn checks totaling less than $80 written more than a decade earlier. After being detained at the airport, she was transferred to Campbell County Detention Center in Kentucky, where she reported unsanitary conditions, pest infestations, and inadequate food and utilities. Her case drew attention after her husband testified before Congress, prompting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to promise a review. She was released just before Christmas and reunited with her family in Missouri, avoiding deportation, and said she will not visit Ireland again until she becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen for fear of future detention.
Timeline
Tags
Sources
- Local grandmother freed from jail after months of ICE detention
First Alert 4·Dec 19, 2025·archived copy
- Grandmother freed from jail just in time for Christmas after months of ICE detention
WOWT·Dec 23, 2025·archived copy
WHSV·Dec 23, 2025·archived copy
- Irish grandmother speaks on release from US immigration detention: ‘It’s fabulous’
- Dublin Live2 links
Show 12 more sources ↓Show fewer sources ↑
- Irish grandmother Donna Hughes-Brown to be released from US custody
- Irish-American grandmother ‘overwhelmed’ after release from detention in US - Homepage
Roscommon Herald·Dec 22, 2025·archived copy
- Irish green card holder released from ICE custody in time for Christmas
Irish Central·Dec 19, 2025·archived copy
- "It's just insane" - Husband of detained Irish green card holder delivers emotional testimony
Irish Central·Nov 20, 2025·archived copy
- Irish woman held by ICE for five months
Irish Examiner·Dec 22, 2025·archived copy
- Cliona Ward, Irish green card holder held in US detention centre, to be released - National News
Carlow Nationalist·May 7, 2025·archived copy
- Irish green card holder Cliona Ward to be released from ICE custody
Irish Central·May 7, 2025·archived copy
- Seattle Times
- Irish woman freed after five months detained by ICE
Extra.ie·Dec 22, 2025·archived copy
- Cliona Ward, Irish woman held in US detention centre after family visit, released
- RTÉ2 links
Loading…
Related incidents
- ICE arrests four Haitian nationals in nationwide sweepOct 22, 2026 · Washington, DC
- Ahmed S.: Gay Arizona man deported, beaten in Equatorial GuineaOct 22, 2026 · Tucson, AZ
- ICE agent points pistol at workers during Texas workplace raidOct 21, 2026 · Brownsville, TX
- 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