Written answers

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Department of Foreign Affairs

Consular Services

10:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he and the Irish Consulate in Chicago have taken in connection with the case of a person (details supplied); the details of the case; the expected date when this person can return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24552/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through our Consulates in New York and Chicago, have provided extensive consular assistance to the person referred to by the Deputy. The person concerned travelled to the United States in October 2007 on a six-month working visa. In April of this year, he served a fifteen day prison sentence in Florida for driving related offences. My Department made clear to the person that he would be out of status if he remained in the US beyond 30 April — the date of his visa's expiration. However, following his release from prison on 22 April, he chose to remain in the US and was detained by US immigration authorities in early May. He was held in Raymondville, Texas and was deported from the US on 23 June.

Throughout this process, my Department maintained close contact with the person and his family. We highlighted our interest in the case to the appropriate US authorities, ensured that the family's concerns regarding his welfare were brought to the attention of the authorities and that he had access to legal representation.

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