An Irish man who was detained in the US and is facing deportation has described his “shock” and “heartbreak” after being “pounced” on and arrested
Keith Byrne, was nabbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on July 10 and he revealed it was “pretty shocking” and he was “very scared”.
The dad of three, who set up his own painting business, was on his way to work on the outskirts of Philadelphia when he was stopped.
The Co Cork native, who is from Fermoy, described his detention experience in Pike County Jail in Pennsylvania as being “awful”.
Keith, who travelled to the US on a 90-day visa waiver programme in 2007 but overstayed his visa.
Speaking to RTE News, he said: "They put me in cuffs and they also put me in shackles, they put cuffs on my feet.
“They took me to a detention centre in Philadelphia and threw me in a cell.
“I guess more than anything else I was just heartbroken because my babies, my wife, my business, my customers, my life, everything I’ve worked so hard for was just gone, without warning.
“So to pounce on me the way they did, it was pretty shocking. I was scared, I was very scared."
Keith, 37, was temporarily released from custody last week for 30 days, which he described as a “huge step”.
He said he has great confidence in his lawyers, who he will meet on Monday to discuss the case and he is optimistic about what they can do for him.
Keith, who said it was ‘really special’ to be reunited with his wife and three kids after his three-week detention, continued: “It’s good to be home. It’s where I belong”.
In 2009, he married American lady named Keren with whom he had two kids, and also became stepdad to a child from Keren’s previous relationship.
Keith’s efforts to obtain a green card have failed because of two cannabis possession convictions while he was living in Ireland.
He added: “It’s kind of embarrassing. It’s a 14 year-old fine that I paid in court so I don’t know what message people are giving out by sending me home over that.
“I’ve made a good life over here so, I’ve paid my penalty.”
“I would just say that those people don’t know me and they don’t know how many years that I’ve spent in court fighting for my status.”
His wife Keran Byrne previously insisted the couple had tried to “adjust his status” but have been refused several times.
Keith, who stressed he has ‘never hid’ in the US, concluded: “I came here and I got lucky. I’ve lived the ‘American dream’. Hard work made good luck, so may it continue”.
“I’m optimistic. I’m hopeful. I’m just going to leave it with the law and hopefully my lawyers can make it happen. I’m just going to keep working hard and keep doing what I was doing.”
Keith insisted if the worst case scenario happens and he is deported back to Ireland “it would be horrible” and that “nothing good comes from sending me home”.
