Irish Grandmother Detained By Ice In The U.s.

Donna Hughes-Brown, an Irish grandma who has lived legally successful nan United States for astir her full life, is facing deportation aft being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) astatine Chicago O’Hare International Airport connected July 29. The 58-year-old greenish paper holder was returning from a family ceremonial successful Ireland erstwhile nan detention occurred, sparking renewed attraction to her case.

Hughes-Brown has lived successful nan U.S. since she was 11, raising 5 children and caring for 5 grandchildren. She and her husband, Jim Brown, a U.S. Navy veteran, person built a life together connected a mini workplace successful Missouri while contributing to aggregate section unpaid projects.

Her detention was triggered by a insignificant misdemeanor from 2015

The detention stems from a insignificant misdemeanor from 2015, a $25 bad check. At nan time, Hughes-Brown repaid nan magnitude and completed each ineligible requirements. Despite this, nan discourtesy was flagged nether nan 2025 amendments to nan Immigration and Nationality Act, sometimes referred to arsenic nan ‘Big Beautiful Bill Act.’

The rule allows insignificant infractions, moreover from decades past, to consequence successful detention of ineligible immigrants, limiting nan discretion of migration judges successful granting bond. The GoFundMe page for Hughes-Brown’s lawsuit notes that this business affects not only forbidden immigrants but besides ‘LEGAL immigrants who person been surviving present legally for decades.’

She has spent complete a period successful detention nether challenging conditions

After first detention astatine O’Hare for 5 days, Hughes-Brown was transferred to a installation successful Kentucky, wherever she has remained since August 4. Scheduling errors initially delayed her enslaved hearing, and nan judge’s expertise to merchandise her was restricted nether nan caller law. Her ineligible squad successfully secured a caller enslaved proceeding while preparing for her deportation proceeding connected September 17.

The GoFundMe page highlights nan accent caused by these proceedings, describing nan clip arsenic ‘difficult, stressful, and expensive.’ Efforts are besides underway to expunge nan aged misdemeanor from her record, a measurement that could region nan ground for ICE detention entirely.

Her family and organization person rallied successful support

Support for Hughes-Brown has grown done some ineligible defense and nationalist awareness. The GoFundMe page emphasises nan couple’s longstanding engagement successful nan community: ‘Jim and Donna are some very beardown supporters and helpers of our community. They are hardworking, honest, and caring individuals…always fresh to thief without expecting thing successful exchange.’

The fundraiser intends to raise resources for lawyers, tribunal fees, and support for nan mates during this challenging time, reflecting nan wider interest astir nan effect of nan rule connected hundreds, perchance thousands, of semipermanent ineligible residents.

This lawsuit highlights broader issues successful U.S. migration enforcement

Hughes-Brown’s lawsuit is portion of a increasing inclination of semipermanent residents being caught up successful migration enforcement complete insignificant past offenses. Earlier successful 2025, different Irish greenish paper holder was concisely detained successful California earlier being released pursuing nationalist and governmental intervention. Cases for illustration these item nan challenges ineligible immigrants tin look nether changing enforcement policies, moreover aft decades of surviving and contributing successful nan U.S.

She is scheduled to look earlier an migration judge successful mid-September

Donna Hughes-Brown is scheduled to look earlier an migration judge successful mid-September. Advocates statement that nan lawsuit could person wider implications for different semipermanent residents facing detention complete insignificant humanities offenses, while drafting nationalist attraction to nan quality effect of these policies.

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