Featured Image Credit: X/@ICEgov
Topics: News, US News, Politics, Social Media
Lucy Devine
The US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been criticised over its recent St Patrick's Day post.
Taking to X, ICE shared a post of officers holding rifles, with green smoke billowing behind them.
"Happy Saint Patrick's Day from ICE!" They wrote.
The post featured several ICE agents, who all had their faces blurred in the image.
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Following the message, people were quick to point out some flaws, especially given the historical context of Irish immigration in the US.
It is estimated that over six million Irish people have emigrated to the US since 1820.
In fact, one sixth of US citizens identify their background as Irish, with the National Museum of Ireland explaining: "The peak of Irish emigration resulted from the Great Famine of 1845-1852. It has been estimated that nearly two million people - about a quarter of the population - emigrated to the United States in a ten year period at that time."
One person wrote on the post: "The irony of anti- immigrant storm troopers 'celebrating' an Irish holiday... lol."
Meanwhile others wanted to know why the faces of the agents had been blurred for the post.
Some referenced Seamus Culleton, who was detained by agents in Boston last September.
Culleton arrived in the US from Ireland in 2009 and married a US citizen last year. He obtained a valid work permit and was in the process of applying for permanent residency when he was detained, most recently to detention facility, El Paso in Texas.
The US Department Of Homeland Security told BBC News Northern Ireland that 'a pending green card application and work authorisation does not give someone legal status' to remain in the US.
However, lawyers for Culleton, at the BOS Legal Group in Boston, explained to the BBC: "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.
"Our legal team remains focused on securing his release from ICE custody and obtaining the immigration relief necessary for him to be reunited with his wife and to remain in the United States with his family."
Culleton explained he has been living in poor conditions with insufficient food and not enough time outside.
"You don't know what's going to happen on a day-to-day basis," he told RTÉ's Liveline.
"You don't know if there's going to be riots, you don't know what's going to happen. It's a nightmare down here."
Wife Tiffany, meanwhile, told CBS Boston: "He’s lost a lot of weight. You know, he just… Seamus was always a guy - he’s always making a joke, no matter what situation.
"He’s always goofing around. And that’s just… I don’t know. That’s gone, you know?"
Tyla has reached out to ICE for comment.