Labour’s TD Duncan Smith has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to “urgently” seek clarity from United States authorities following new data showing an increase in Irish citizens interacting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and deportation procedures.
Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 66 Irish citizens faced deportation procedures in the United States in 2025, a fourfold increase from 2025.
Smith expressed concern for Irish people in ICE custody, and demanded immediate diplomatic engagement to protect Irish citizens, as well as full transparency on how many remain detained.
Figures from ICE state that 99 Irish citizens were deported between January and September 2025, a different set of figures compared to those of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“We do not yet know how many additional Irish citizens have been detained or deported since September, and that lack of clarity is worrying,” Smith said.
“We are hearing directly from immigration lawyers on the ground that there is a palpable fear among undocumented Irish people living in the United States. That fear is grounded in the very real and disturbing conditions that Irish citizens are reporting inside ICE detention facilities.”
The Labour TD pointed to the experience of Donna Hughes Brown, a 59-year-old Irish woman who has lived in the United States since she was 11 years old,
Following a visit home to Ireland last July, Donna was detained by ICE due to two bounced cheques totalling just 100 dollars. When she became aware of the issue, she paid both bills in person more than a decade ago. Despite this, she was detained and placed in what she described as “filthy and degrading” conditions.
“Donna has spoken publicly about the reality of detention, describing buildings that were dirty, infested with bugs and covered in faeces. She reported that detainees were given mats that had not been cleaned and that the facilities smelled extremely bad. She has also described horrific food conditions, with her allergies ignored and basic hygiene facilities such as toilets, sinks and showers breaking down for days without repair. These are inhuman conditions, and no one should be subjected to such treatment anywhere in the world,” the Labour foreign affairs spokesperson asid.
“The Irish government has a duty to stand up for Irish citizens abroad. The Minister must outline clearly what Irish embassies and consulates are doing to support Irish detainees and ensure their welfare. There must be direct engagement with the United States Department of Homeland Security to establish exactly how many Irish citizens are currently detained and what protections are being provided to them. With high level diplomatic engagement between Ireland and the United States expected around Saint Patrick’s Day, the government must make it absolutely clear that the mistreatment of Irish citizens is unacceptable and cannot be ignored.”
“The government must immediately seek full disclosure from United States authorities on the number of Irish citizens currently detained, provide clear assurances that Irish detainees are receiving humane treatment, and use every diplomatic channel available to protect vulnerable Irish communities living abroad. Irish citizens deserve protection, dignity and respect, and the government must act now to ensure those principles are upheld,” the Dublin Fingal East TD said.