An Irish woman living in the United States for decades has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement following a trip to Ireland.
Cliona Ward, who has lived legally in the US for decades, recently brought her stepmother to Ireland to visit her ill father, according to her sister.
Orla Holladay said that when Ms Ward returned to the United States, she was detained by customs and border officials following an administrative meeting to present documents related to a 20-year-old expunged criminal conviction.
Ms Holladay, who also lives in the US, wrote on a GoFundMe page that her sister did "everything she was supposed to do in order to make reparations for that criminal conviction, and has been gainfully employed, paying taxes, and building a family in Santa Cruz".
She said Ms Ward has a son who is chronically ill and depends on her for caregiving.
Originally from Dublin, Cliona Ward has been living in Santa Cruz in California.
According to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's website, Ms Ward is being detained at the Northwest Detention Centre in Tacoma in Washington State.
It is one of the largest detention centres in the United States with a capacity of over 1,500 people.
Watch: Taoiseach 'concerned' about Irish woman's detainment in US
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is "concerned" about Ms Ward's case.
"Our consular officials and consulate general in San Francisco will be supporting and facilitating Cliona and the family to get this issue resolved," he said.
"When issues like this arise from time to time, our officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs engage with a view to getting the issues resolved.
"Our advice is consistent in terms of where people have green cards or citizenship rights there shouldn't be an issue, so we will be pursuing it on a bilateral basis to make sure that those who are legitimately entitled to be in the US are free from any challenges or difficulties of this kind."
Mr Martin said there were "reports of further incidents like this", adding that it is "something we will take up with the US on a bilateral basis".
In a statement to RTÉ News, California US Representative Jimmy Panetta called for Ms Ward's release and said the incident shows the "cruel and misguided" nature of the Trump administration's immigration policy.
"It is unimaginable that a reportedly expunged, decades-old crime could be used as justification for deporting a legal permanent resident who is a productive member of our community," Rep Panetta said.
The former gang prosecutor said he understands and appreciates the need to remove hardened criminals from our communities, but the detention of Ms Ward for a decades-old expunged crime is "unfathomable and unacceptable".
"I am continuing to push the US Customs and Border Protection for the release of Ms Ward and am working closely with her legal advocates to coordinate efforts, ensure transparency, and uphold the law and due process that must be afforded to everyone in the United States."
Paul O'Dwyer, a New York-based immigration lawyer, said it's no secret that there has been a "huge crackdown" on immigration, both legal and non-legal, in the US.
However, he said that when a criminal conviction is expunged, it remains a criminal conviction for immigration purposes.
"Unfortunately for someone in Cliona's position, it comes back to haunt them many, many years later," he said.
"Which is not to say what immigration is doing is appropriate - it's not," he added.
