The family of an Irish dad who is being detained by immigration officials in America have said that he has until Friday to leave the country or he could face time in prison.
Cork native Keith Byrne was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials when he was going to work in Philadelphia last Wednesday.
ICE said that he was arrested for immigration violations and issued him with a visa-waiver removal order.
Keith's brother, Greg, told RTE news that Keith called him on Tuesday from the detention centre and that an ICE official gave him with a deal.
His brother has until Friday to sign documentation that would give him a passport to leave America but ban him from entering the US for five years.
After that five years has passed, he would get the chance to reapply for visiting rights to America.
If he doesn't sign the documentation, it may result in up to four years in jail.
He went to the US on a visa-waiver programme in 2007 but overstayed his visa.
The detention of the dad, 37, comes amid President Donald Trump’s latest crackdown on illegal immigrants.
He had two previous convictions for possession of cannabis while living in Ireland, which have also added to his struggle with US authorities.
During his time in America, the dad-of-three had set up his own painting business in Philadelphia.
Keith married American woman Keren Bryne but his attempts over 12 years to get a Green Card have been turned down.
His application for a visa was denied because he was arrested twice for marijuana possession in Ireland, US court documents from 2015 show.
On both occasions, he paid a fine for it.
The 37-year-old is being held at Pike County Correctional facility in Pennsylvania.
