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IRISHMAN KEITH BYRNE – who has lived in the US for over ten years but is now facing deportation – has spoken of his “shock” and “heartbreak” following his arrest.
Byrne was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on 10 July.
The Fermoy-native and father-of-three runs a painting and decorating business in Pennsylvania, and was pulled over by officers on his way to work despite being a legal citizen.
He has attempted to secure his status in the US through appropriate legal routes since he has been living there, but a charge for possession of marijuana when he still lived in Ireland has meant he has failed to do so.
Although his family always knew it was possible that his application could be denied to the point that he would have to go back to Ireland, his wife Keran told RTÉ earlier this month that it never occurred to her family that ICE would deport him.
A member of Byrne’s legal team, Stephen Antwine, told RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime on Friday that they had received an order granting his release for 30 days.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Byrne said he was “very scared” when ICE officers pulled him over in his car.
“I was very scared at the beginning of course. I guess more than anything else I was just heartbroken. My babies, my wife, my business, my customers, my life. Everything I had worked so hard for was just gone, without warning. I was scared,” Byrne said, speaking of his arrest.
RTÉ News / Twitter
RTÉ News / Twitter / Twitter
Byrne described his experience of being detained in Pike County Jail in Pennsylvania as “awful”.
“They put me in jail with who knows who. It was awful,” Byrne said.
As noted above, Byrne has attempted to secure his status in the US through appropriate legal routes since he has been living there, but a charge for possession of marijuana when he still lived in Ireland has meant he has failed to do so.
It’s kind of embarrassing. It’s a 14-year-old fine that I paid in court. I don’t know what kind of message people are giving out by sending me home over that. I’ve made a good life over here so, I’ve paid my penalty.
Byrne said he has “never hid” in the US.
“I came here and I got lucky. I’ve lived the ‘American dream’. Hard work made good luck, so may it continue,” he said.
Byrne said he is yet to speak to his lawyer, but that he has “full confidence in him” going forward.
“I’ll need to have confidence in someone so I’m excited to speak to him,” Byrne said.
A spokesperson for ICE told TheJournal.ie earlier this week: “In 2007, Keith Byrne, 37, a citizen of Ireland, entered the United States as a nonimmigrant under the Visa Waiver Program and failed to depart the United States under the terms of his admission.
“ICE arrested him July 10 for immigration violations and issued him a visa waiver removal order. In accordance with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania temporary injunction, ICE will release Mr. Byrne from custody pending immigration proceedings.”
ICE has been contacted by TheJournal.ie for an updated statement.
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He overstayed his holiday visa and has a drug conviction….what part of that makes him a ..legal citizen….
@brian reid: some people want one rule for illegals in Ireland and a different rule for illegals from Ireland.
@brian reid: The bit where he married a citizen.
@Gerard Carthy: but that does not make him a legal citizen does it, that is his problem.
@brian reid: 2 wrongs do not make a…….., the big picture here is, he was open not hiding, he contributed, and he has a wife and small children. Their wellbeing has to be considered. Breaking up a family is never right.
@Dave Walsh: where do u draw d line, only single people and those not married to US citizens should be deported? It’s a rough circumstance but the law is the law
@Dave Walsh: so breaking US federal law is
Ah come on! He was there illegally! This doesn’t even need media attention!
@Daithi De Roiste: yes it does
Shock and heartbreak over the law being enforced? Okay…
If you abuse the immigration system then you get what you deserve. It is as simple as that. That been said I do hope it works out for him and his family in that he is afforded a chance to regularise himself.
He tried to stay and was caught end off
@John Murt: END OFF
@De20: PULL OFF
@De20: #end of???
@Al Fresco: think that’s what he highlighted
Why is it that when someone comes to Ireland without a visa they are an illegal immigrant but when the Irish do it in America we call them the undocumented !!
@Carol Cunningham: people who slip over the US border secretly are undocumented illegals, this man was a documented illegal as he initially went through US customs. Different terminology for different circumstances
Over stayed no pity simple as that man
@MAX POWER: I agree. I that was me I’d close my business, sack all my employeess, divorced my wife, alow my children to be taken into care. I would not oppose immediate deportation to Ireland, when I arrive in Ireland I’d sign on to the dole. If unable to afford accommodation, I’d apply for HAP, if that doesn’t work out there’s a few homeless hostels I could stay at.
I might cost both Ireland and the US money in the long run, with kids in care, unemployed former employees, divorced wife, Dole, HAP etc. But that’s not important, the US had kept itself safe from a drug fiend out who smoked pot 20 years ago.
@David Jordan: nicely said. So many self righteous, law abiding prix on this story thread.
@David Jordan: so, just to check, you are okay then for immigrants and asylum seekers that had a child in Ireland, to remain here? so, all they need to do in your book is come here (legally or illegally), get married and have a child and not live of the dole. I mean I do feel sorry for that family but they did know this might happen. hopefully they will find a solution.
@sue: where did he say he was ok with it? Maybe he just responding to the tool above when they said they had no pity?
How was he legal when he overstayed his holiday visa? It makes a joke for all the people who spend thousands on their visa application if he gets to stay..he knew he didnt meet the criteria then so he didnt try the legal route
@Darren Carroll: He has been trying to fix it for the last 9 years, that’s why he declared everything , to show them that he was not trying to hide anything. He appears to be a good family man running his own business, has his own home. He deserves a break.
@Aine O Connor: No he doesn’t deserve a break. He knowingly overstayed his visa, he would not have acquired a social security number legally, so that is another crime. If he had really wanted to become legal he should have returned home before his visa expired and applied legally for a green card. Like every other legal immigrant.
@Mick.: tens of thousands get a break in the US every year and get granted residency despite having “broken” immigration laws, all nationalities included. Unless you’re a millionaire, medical professional or lucky enough to win the diversity visa(greencard lottery) then there is no legal route. The only reason it’s different for this decent man is a silly conviction from his youth.
Be under no illusion, that country needs immigrants to do its work
@Darren O Leary: he didn’t need a lottery green card, as he is eligible through marriage. His problem was declaring a potentially undocumented possession of drugs in Ireland. He should have left that it, the us would not find out, and we wouldn’t know his name. Naive mistake, but could cost him his family.
@Renton Burke: Yes I understand that, my comment was a broad reply to Mick who doesn’t really have a grasp of the overall scheme of things when it comes to getting a greencard. He seems to think the guy is looking for special treatment when in fact thousands get their residency status ammended through marriage every year.
Ya things might be different if he never declared the drugs charge but he may have been asked for records from home in the process which would have caught him out regardless and then no mercy whatsoever would be shown. What a lot of commenters don’t realise is that US immigration law can vary and change on an annual basis. Doctors differ and patients die etc….
I hope some humanity is shown and it all works out for him and his family
They must be making a movie about this guy soon, I can only imagine the amount of other what’s the word “undocumented” immigrants that would like as much coverage.
@Darren: ill watch it. Meanwhile you’ll crawl back to your cave and think about your precious
He did overstay his visa and he knew the risks I kind of feel sorry for them but more so because he has a step child so the family moving here is not really an option.
That being said I have always found it a ridiculous situation that people can live, work, get married have babies pay taxes enroll your kids in schools have a social security number but still be illegal. Here you must have a stamp 4 on your visa to be able to work or buy a house. With all their bells and whistles it’s pretty incredible the “most powerful nation in the world” hasn’t figured this out.
@LittleBee: There is no way he could get a social security number legally. So therefore broke another law by acquiring one illegally.
@Mick.: but according to his father he has one and was granted it along with a driver’s licence etc. How has he been running a tax complient business without a social security number. Granted I dont know the ins and outs of it but I do know quite a few people that are living in the states for years they are all working, have kids, got married it’s bonkers really.
@Mick.: huh interesting here it is in a nutshell if you’re interested
https://seniorsleague.org/how-undocumented-workers-are-becoming-entitled-to-social-security/
Yawn. When’s the Prime Time special?
“In jail with who knows who”.. it doesn’t really sound like he got a lot of empathy for other people in the exact same situation as him either.
@Rachel Ray: are they in the exact same position? Is it just illegals in the cell? …..was it just a figure of speech….you seem clueless
While my sympathy lies with this family American law is the law and he ignored the the realitys of the pasport problem for to long So its a bit late to be crying wolf now
@Alan Scott: He did not ignore it , he has been trying to fix it for years.
@Aine O Connor: He also has two small drug convictions But I agree as I posted on this sububject before he has his own business and should be given a second chance I hope he gets it for the sake of his wife and family.
You guys are so miserable. Take care you don’t do anything wrong and dont live fully by rules, regulations etc”. Violating his visa is one thing but it’s forgiven once you marry a citizen. Only difference in him not being able to do it is these silly possession charges in Ireland. Hopefully they’ll grant him residency and these guys just move on & be happy. Regardless what happens you guys will still be miserable typing your comments.
@Ronan McDermott:
I agree
Give the guy some slack
@Ronan McDermott: what if he was Mexican ?
@Ronan McDermott: he shouldn’t be so shocked. Clearly he knew he had met the conditions of his original visa entry
@Ronan McDermott: Let’s face it you are only sympathising because he’s Irish, if ICE granted him residency in the morning what do they do about the thousands of other illegal’s ( Irish included) in very similar situations?
@Brianto: had not
@Ronan McDermott: I don’t think we’re that miserable. We believe in things like rules and consequences. Life can be tough if you don’t abide by them. I do hope things work out for this fella because of his family, especially his stepson. But I’ve no sympathy for him. He knew exactly what he was doing and the repercussions.
@Ronan McDermott: but it’s not forgiven once you marry a citizen. Marrying a citizen does not give you automatic right to a green card it just allows you to apply. You still have to go through rigerous checks and expense to complete the process. Yes it’s all very sad and personally I have nothing against anyone wanting a better life or a fresh start but he did know the risks. That being said it’s crazy that you can run a business or work in the US and not have your paperwork in order. They are happy to take your taxes and then whinge about all the illegals. In Austrailia and here for that matter you would find it hard to even pick fruit without the correct visa.
@Darren: no I’m not sympathizing just as he’s Irish. All these cases could be looked at via case by case basis. If there’s serious crimes fair enough. That’s the whole point here. He’s commited no serious crimes
No sympathy for this guy
I’m 4 years into the immigration process in USA , spent $5000 and still waiting . Why should he jump ahead ! The Irish media too have to stop framing this as some persecution . He’s illegally in the country and has a drug conviction
@froggyintexas: I’m close to 10k in visa related costs now but nice not to be living looking over your shoulder. Nobody in Ireland would want an immigrant legal or illegal staying with a drug conviction, why should the Americans have to tolerate someone who has broken laws
There are a lot of self righteous tossers on this website. Who have great certainty.
@Gerard Carthy: and you contradict yourself with your own made up version of self rightousness.
Guess he forgot he overstayed his original tourist visa and freely choose to live illegally in the US.
@Don Hogan: no, fake don, he didn’t
He broke the law by staying in the US for more than 90 days. He should have left the country and applied to stay longer than that through legal channels. There is no way he has an authentic Social Security number. Sure America might be a big country and people think they can hide but this guy got found out. Now he must pay the price for the choice he made back in 2007 to “overstay his welcome”.
@Seeking Truth: “found out”? He has been dealing with the authorities for nearly a decade. How foolish do you look
Very shoddy journalism Hayley Halpin. How did you work out that this guy is a ‘legal citizen’? He’s an illegal alien!
He says he has been trying to secure his status in courts for 9 years. Under Obama administration he may have had a chance but far less likely under current administration. Unfortunately his case like many others slows up the system for the many others applying and waiting legitimately for visas not to mention the thousands they spend on following the rules. I would like to know more about his business as the way the journalist’s have written in multiple articles are that he is a great entrepreneur but I’m guessing he is working mostly cash in hand jobs and paying zero tax. I would be very surprised if he has a legitimate driving license or social security number. Working illegally and employing illegal workers like him has a negative impact on legitimate businesses competing.
@Marc Murphy: ??? Why do you think he paid no tax when it clearly indicates he does.
@Stephen Coveney: like I said it would be my guess. They could be talking about sales tax which we all pay on goods. Very difficult to pay taxes properly if you are illegal. I have come across many illegal workers and most can only take cash work or if they do have social security number it’s by fraud
Just expunge his cannabis record. He was young and stupid. Plus in some USA States its now legal.
Over to you Justice Minister Flanagan.
@David Glynn: yea just expunge it because he was young and stupid…..if everyone did that it be a free for all . …it’s a pity he was convicted before that law came in and then lied in his Visa app so it’s the right thing to deport him
@Michael: I would welcome a free for all for small time users with offences dating back years. if Willie Nelson can market his own cannabis brand then how ridiculous is it not to do so. Times have changed.
Ya its his own fault but what sort of people say ‘i have no sympathy’?? If you cant have sympathy for a man that could lose everything even though all his so called crimes are victimless, what sort of person are you?
Let him stay….on condition he moves to inner city Baltimore (for a period of no less than the time he was illegal)and puts his skills to good use….win win for all methinks.
Forgive my laziness on not reading more into the case but if he is married to a citizen then he doesn’t qualify for residency?
He is there illegally as he well knows his fault no one else, must have some good friends to be getting this much media attention here…
Could people please remember that there is innocent children involved her and he was given all the correct documentation to start a business and get a driving licence.
@Stephen Devine: He got married and fathered two children knowing he was an illegal immigrant & could be deported. My sympathy lies with the children
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