Irish woman who was detained in US thanks her sister for 'warrior' support
Sarah Slater
An Irish woman who was detained by US immigration enforcement for almost three weeks after returning from a visit to Ireland has praised her sister as a "warrior" for helping her get out of jail.
Cliona Ward (54), a green-card holder who has been living legally the US for about 30 years, first ran into legal trouble in March after arriving back in America from a trip to Ireland to visit her ill father in Youghal, Co Cork.
Ms Ward, who has legal residency in the US until 2033, was detained and questioned by customs at the San Francisco airport on March 19th over her past criminal record.
She was facing deportation by immigration officials.
Her prior criminal record includes six cases – two felonies for possession of drugs in December 2007 and January 2008, and four misdemeanours.
She and her sister Orla Holladay, who also lives in the US, claimed her convictions were expunged, prompting customs to temporarily release her to obtain the appropriate documentation to prove that her records had been cleared in California.
When she went to plead her case at San Francisco airport to customs on April 21st and present proof of her expungement, she was detained again and told to argue her case in front of an immigration judge.
The expungement had been carried out at a state not federal level.
Ms Ward was released by a court in Seattle on May 7th after her original convictions were formally vacated so that they would be recognised at a federal level.
Her case garnered huge media attention both here and in the US.
In her first comments since her release, on the Gofundme page Cliona's Hope: A Mother's Fight for Freedom, Ms Ward called her sister, "My warrior, defender of justice. Could this be a calling for you?"
While thanking Ms Holladay she also acknowledged the public's help, support and financial donations. Almost $50,000 (€43,000) was raised.
"I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me and now continue to fight for justice served," Ms Ward continued.
"Everyone should have the opportunity to prove their innocence. I love you so much my warrior, my defender, my sister, my anam cara. There is truly no one in the world like you, and I am truly blessed!"
Ms Ward claimed those who are being detained by ICE "are not informed on how to get out, and they are so afraid to speak up for the basic human rights... like how to find council or interpreter services...
“They [officials] give them detention handbooks in English and Spanish only. All done on purpose to keep them detained and deportable.”
Ms Holladay, who is now looking after her sister following her release from jail, said that life was still not normal for them. "Cliona is in PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]. She spent the night vomiting, purging the food she had been fed and because they don't ever turn the lights off in the detention center, when she closes her eyes all she sees is fluorescent lights.”
Democrat California Congressman Jimmy Panetta lent his support for her release. He tweeted on X: “Cliona Ward is released and that’s what happens when we fight for transparency, due process and justice. We worked this case from Santa Cruz to DC… and from Seattle to Ireland”.
