By Secret Ireland Team | February 18, 2026
Leaving Glenmore, Co Kilkenny for the United States in 2009
In 2009, Séamus Culleton arrived in the US on a tourist visa that allowed a maximum stay of 90 days. Like many Irish immigrants to the US before him — including his twin uncles Paddy and John Culleton — he intended to build a better future in America’s construction industry. What began as a temporary visit stretched into a full life: he founded Séamus Culleton Plastering in the Wakefield area of Boston and rose to the position of CEO.
On his LinkedIn profile he proudly stated: “I served my apprenticeship in Ireland learning from top quality plasterers… I now have 20 years’ experience in the trade I love.” For years he appeared to be living the classic Irish American Dream — running his own business, building community ties, and starting a new family.
The ICE Arrest: September 9, 2025 – Home Depot in Boston
Everything changed on September 9, 2025. While shopping for work tools at a Home Depot store in Boston, Séamus Culleton was approached and detained by ICE agents. He has since spent over five months in various ICE detention facilities, most recently in El Paso, Texas.
Despite recently marrying US citizen Tiffany Smyth in April 2025, holding a valid work permit, and actively pursuing a Green Card application, his original 2009 tourist visa overstay made him removable under current US immigration laws. Just days before his arrest he had casually messaged one of his daughters in Ireland: “Well how are ya?” He described a pleasant day in Boston walking his Doberman dogs Caesar and Cleopatra and planning to barbecue chicken wings later.
Conditions Inside ICE Facilities – Controversy & Denials
After his detention, Séamus Culleton appeared on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline programme, describing the conditions inside the ICE facility as comparable to a “concentration camp.” He alleged severe overcrowding, inadequate food, poor hygiene, and widespread illness — serious claims that were swiftly denied by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
His wife Tiffany has repeatedly appealed for his release: “I want him safe. Séamus is a good man. He doesn’t deserve what is going on. It’s heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking.”
Family Rift: Twin Daughters Heather & Melissa Morrissey Speak Out
While Séamus built a new life in Boston, he left behind twin daughters Heather and Melissa Morrissey in Ireland — only 18 months old when he departed in 2009. Now 19 years old, the twins have publicly criticised their father for what they describe as abandonment.
Heather told media outlets: “He upped and left when we were just babies. Our mother reared us on her own.” The daughters only discovered their father’s identity around age 12–13 and later reached out to him. Contact remained limited — occasional messages over social media and rare phone calls hampered by the time difference between Ireland and Boston.
When Heather heard her father’s Liveline interview, she was deeply upset: “He went on the radio and didn’t even mention us. He talked about his wife and dogs.” She added that he once offered to fly them to the United States, but they declined: “Why should I make the effort to go and see him when he’s the one who left?”
Heather has stated she might be open to reconciliation if her father returns to Ireland and takes responsibility: “If he could own up to what he has done, I would be willing to give someone a second chance.”
Past Drug Charges in Ireland Surface – 2008 Incident in Glenmore
After Séamus went public with his detention story, old newspaper clippings from the New Ross Standard resurfaced online. They revealed that in May 2008 — aged 22 — he had been charged in Ireland with unlawful possession of drugs, possession for sale or supply, and obstruction. He failed to appear at New Ross District Court in April 2009 (one month after leaving for the US), and a bench warrant was issued.
Heather commented: “It’s a mess of his own making. In all fairness, he went on the internet talking about this. Of course he was going to get backlash.” Immigration experts have stated that these unresolved charges significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful Green Card application now that the details are widely known.
Legal Update – February 2026: Temporary Stay of Deportation Granted
As of mid-February 2026, Séamus Culleton’s legal team at BOS Legal Group achieved a temporary victory. On February 13, 2026, the First Circuit Court of Appeals granted a 10-business-day stay on his deportation after the firm filed a Petition for Review.
Attorney Ogor Okoye stated: “Culleton has resided in the United States for nearly two decades and is married to a US citizen. He has no criminal entries since living in the United States, presents no safety concerns and has strong familial and community ties.” The US government is expected to file its response shortly.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin countered that Culleton was offered voluntary departure with paid flights to Ireland but chose to remain in ICE custody and contest removal.
Family Legacy – Uncle Paddy ‘Punter’ Culleton’s Story
Séamus is not the first Culleton to navigate US immigration challenges. His late uncle Paddy ‘Punter’ Culleton was once an undocumented Irish immigrant in Boston before gaining citizenship. Paddy co-founded the Boston Irish Wolfhounds rugby club and became a respected figure in the construction sector until a devastating rugby accident in 1991 left him paralysed. He defied medical expectations and lived until 2016, receiving tributes in both Boston and Glenmore.
Conclusion: Personal Choices, Systemic Issues & the Irish Diaspora
Séamus Culleton’s case encapsulates both individual decisions and larger questions about US immigration enforcement in 2026. While Heather describes the situation as “a mess of his own making,” many in the Irish diaspora community see parallels with thousands of long-term undocumented Irish nationals living quietly in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago — now facing heightened ICE activity.
Whether Séamus ultimately returns to Kilkenny or secures legal status in the US remains uncertain. His story continues to draw attention to the human cost of decades-old visa overstays, unresolved criminal matters from Ireland, fractured family relationships, and the enduring pull of the Irish American Dream.
Stay updated with more stories of Ireland’s global diaspora at Secret Ireland.
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