Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
251. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions she is taking to ensure the wellbeing and protection of the rights of Irish citizens who are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States. [11742/26]
View answerProviding effective and accessible consular assistance to Irish citizens is a priority for me and for my Department, as is advocacy for undocumented Irish citizens in the United States.
My Department provides consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of our Consular Assistance Charter. The Charter sets out in a clear and accessible manner the type of assistance citizens can expect to receive should they require assistance. The provision of consular assistance is a cornerstone of the work of my Department. I place a strong emphasis on ensuring that citizens receive empathetic, timely and appropriate assistance at all times.
The assistance my Department can provide in cases of detention by ICE or in the case of deportation, like with any other case, will depend on the individual circumstances of that case. Assistance can include, for example, facilitating communication between the citizen and their family, engaging with the relevant local authorities, providing a list of lawyers, or sharing information on the deportation process with family members. This is not an exhaustive list and each case is considered on a case-by-case basis.
I would also note that through our diplomatic network across the US, my Department also works closely with a number of partner organisations and immigration centres supporting Irish immigrants in the US in providing reliable, trust-worthy information and advice. These organisations are supported under the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
