Cliona Ward, a 54-year-old owner of Green Card, who has lived in the USA for more than four decades Newsweek.

Holladay said that Thatwards detention was triggered by her former, almost 20-year criminal records, from which the family believes that they had been triggered. Newsweek Could not check and confirm whether both their federal and state recording was triggered.

Newsweek CBP turned to CBP on Thursday.

Why is it important

Ward’s detention takes place in the midst of immigration rating as part of the Trump administration, in which people with valid documentation – including Green cards or visas – have been arrested and legal danger.

President Donald Trump swores to prevent illegal immigrants with criminal stories or backgrounds from entering and staying in the USA.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) says that a Green card holder has the right to live permanently in the USA, provided that it does not take any measures that “make them removable under Immigration Act”. This includes leaving laws and no taxes.

What to know?

Ward, who emigrated from Ireland decades ago when she was 12 years old, was stopped by CBP in Seattle on March 19. She returned from a trip where she “helped to help our stepmother to return to Ireland where my father is currently dying,” said Holladay, “said Holladay,” said Holladay, “said Holladay,” said Holladay “”.At that time, her green card was up to date and only ran down in 2033.

She was held at the airport for three days, told her sister told Newsweek, It was particularly bad that the conditions were particularly bad and added that the Ward existed from “Goldfish and Top Ramen”.

The officials published them so that they could call up the necessary documents to prove that their criminal records had been deleted and then delivered them to the customs office at San Francisco International Airport.

Ward’s former criminal register comprises six cases – two crimes that contain the possession of drugs and four offenses Newsweek.

“My sister had an addiction that took about five years,” said Holladay. The criminals for drug possession were in December 2007 and January 2008. Holladay said: “These legal proceedings come from more than 20 years. It has been completely sober for more than 20 years.

“She has a criminal past, but she is not a criminal. She is a person with a painful past,” added Holladay. She said was “freely traveled into the country since her history”.

When she arrived at the airport on Monday to pursue her case, she was arrested by CBP agents. On Wednesday, her family members were able to speak to her for the first time since their detention.

Ward went through the public school system in the area and visited the University of California Santa Cruz and “was full -time in a non -profit organization,” said her sister.

In addition, Ward is the basic supplier of her son, who is an American citizen, and is chronically ill with Crohn’s disease and a complicated fistula.

Holladay noticed that Ward’s detention at the airport in San Francisco is significantly better than in Seattle, and said that “she has access to better food and water” and could call her son.

What people say

The California representative Jimmy Panetta, a democrat, in an explanation: “It is unimaginable that a supposedly deleted, 20-year incident could be used as a justification for the deportation of a legal permanent resident who is reported to a productive member of our community, it is triggered from her personal recording.”

Tricia McLaughlin, Deputy Homeland Protection Minister of Homeland Security, told beforehand Newsweek: “The Trump administration enforces the immigration laws – something that the previous government has not done. Those who violate these laws are processed, arrested and removed as required.”

The right analyst Steven Clark told NBC this week: “Earlier drug assessments are particularly problematic, even if they have been decriminalized according to state law. They are very serious according to the federal law. For people who have drug or theft judgments, they can be in the crosshair of the Trump government’s deportation policy.”

What happens next

Ward remains custody. Your family has just kept a lawyer.

In his explanation, Panetta said that he “continues to press customs and border protection for the release of Ms. Ward and work closely with her supporters to coordinate our efforts, to ensure transparency and to ensure the law and the proper procedure for all in the United States.”

Newsweek Worked on Panetta’s press team on Thursday for a comment by e -mail.

Update 24.04.25, 2:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comments and information from Orla Holladay and new heading.