Key Takeaways
• Cliona Ward, a Santa Cruz green card holder, was detained by ICE due to old expunged convictions.
• Federal law did not recognize her expunged state convictions, leading to her detention after returning from Ireland.
• Community advocacy and Congressman Panetta’s intervention resulted in her release and dismissal of her immigration case.
A longtime Santa Cruz resident and legal green card holder, Cliona Ward, was released from ICE detention after spending several weeks in federal custody. Ward’s story has touched many in the Santa Cruz community and brought national attention to how U.S. immigration laws treat lawful permanent residents, especially those with old criminal records that were erased by state courts. Her journey and the events leading to her release have sparked widespread conversations about fairness, the reach of federal immigration power, and how immigrant families are affected by agency actions.
Who is Cliona Ward?
Cliona Ward is originally from Ireland 🇮🇪 but has called Santa Cruz home for more than three decades. She is not just a visitor to the United States 🇺🇸; she is a permanent resident, holding a green card that shows her lawful status. Her green card is current and set to remain valid until 2033. The fact that she has lived in the country for so long and maintained her legal status made her detention all the more shocking to her family, friends, and supporters.
What Led to Her Detention?
Ward’s troubles with U.S. immigration officials started after she traveled back to Ireland 🇮🇪 to see her sick father. On her way back into the United States 🇺🇸 last month, she was stopped at San Francisco International Airport. There, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained her. The reason given was old convictions for drug possession and theft from the period between 2003 and 2008. These were not recent arrests; they were from more than 15 years ago.
What’s more, California courts had expunged—or erased—these convictions from her record. Under state law, an expungement means the conviction is wiped away, and for almost all purposes, it is as if it never happened. Yet, on the federal level, especially in the world of immigration, things work differently. The convictions remained on her federal record, which was enough for ICE to move forward with detention.
ICE Detention and the Santa Cruz Community Response
Ward was transferred all the way to Tacoma, Washington for her ICE detention. She was held there for several weeks while her case was reviewed by immigration authorities. The thought of being locked up so far from home, family, familiar places, and legal support must have been overwhelming for Ward.
The detention caught the attention of the Santa Cruz community and beyond. Many people saw it as unfair that a legal resident with an expunged record—who had lived in the country for more than half her life—could be picked up and held in federal jail. Outrage grew, especially among local leaders and advocates who felt the current federal approach to immigration enforcement was too harsh.
Ward’s family and friends did not sit idly by. They started a GoFundMe campaign to help with legal bills and expenses. Cliona’s attorney spoke out about how unusual this situation was, noting that previous administrations usually did not detain lawful permanent residents for very old crimes that had already been removed from state records, especially when those residents returned from a trip abroad.
Santa Cruz Congressman Jimmy Panetta got involved as well, highlighting the case at the national level and adding political weight to the calls for Ward’s release.
Cliona Ward’s Release from ICE Detention
On May 7, after a hearing in front of an immigration judge, Ward was finally released from ICE custody. In a relief not only to her family but to the entire Santa Cruz community, the judge dismissed her immigration case the very same day.
Ward’s loved ones quickly told the world about her freedom. Her sister, Orla Holladay, posted on their GoFundMe page, “Cliona is finally in her own bed… Each of you have literally helped to save Cliona’s life as she knows it,” a heartfelt message that captured the family’s sense of relief and gratitude.
Why Was This Case so Alarming?
Ward’s story is not just about one woman’s experience. It is a window into how U.S. immigration policy can deeply affect people—even those with legal status—over actions that happened many years ago.
Here are some of the key issues at play:
- Expunged State Convictions Still Matter for Immigration: Even after a conviction is erased at the state level, federal immigration rules may still count it. That means people who thought their record was clean—and who may have been told by a judge or lawyer that their past would no longer hurt them—still face risks at the border.
- Old Convictions: Ward’s convictions dated from 2003-2008. For many, that would seem like long enough for the past to be forgotten, especially if the state decided they should be. However, the rules used by ICE do not always allow for that kind of forgiveness.
- Lawful Permanent Residents Can Be Detained: Many Americans may not realize that holding a green card does not fully protect someone from being detained by ICE or facing deportation if they have old criminal records that the federal government sees as serious.
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Community Mobilization: The Santa Cruz community played a big role in Ward’s case. Political support, public rallies, and financial campaigns brought attention that may have helped lead to her quick release.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that stories like Cliona Ward’s are more common than most people think. The patchwork of laws between the states and federal government, as well as the differences in how they record and treat criminal histories, creates confusion and fear for many immigrants.
How Does ICE Decide Who to Detain?
ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, enforces immigration laws in the interior of the United States 🇺🇸, including the detention and removal of non-citizens. When it comes to lawful permanent residents, ICE looks at criminal convictions—even if the person has lived in the country for many years. The agency is given a lot of power to detain or attempt to deport those with certain types of criminal convictions.
Even though California courts had expunged Ward’s record, under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)—the main federal law that shapes immigration decisions—expungements do not always erase the federal impact. This disconnect between state and federal law can create great uncertainty.
The policies on how strictly to enforce these rules can change depending on who is in the White House, how ICE interprets its mission, and what public pressure demands. In Ward’s case, her lawyer noted that prior administrations may have handled cases like hers with more flexibility.
What Was the Community Reaction in Santa Cruz?
The response was swift and loud. Elected officials, nonprofit groups, and everyday people joined together to demand answers and help get Ward released. They argued that locking up a long-term resident over old, expunged offenses sent a chilling message to many others in the community.
The GoFundMe campaign, started by her family, was not just about raising money. It was a rallying point, drawing both locals and concerned people from all over the world. Supporters kept each other updated, shared stories, and wrote messages of encouragement.
Congressman Jimmy Panetta took Ward’s case to higher authorities, which helped shine a national spotlight on the issue. His efforts, joined with community action, likely made a big difference in moving the case forward.
What Does This Case Mean for Other Immigrants?
Cliona Ward’s experience highlights a problem that many green card holders face: the lasting impact of a federal criminal record even after a state conviction is cleared. Even if someone has been told by a state judge that their record is wiped clean, getting stopped by ICE at a U.S. airport or border can lead to detention.
This brings up tough questions:
- Should old convictions that states have erased count against legal immigrants forever?
- Is it fair for people who have rebuilt their lives, raised families, and contributed to their communities for decades to live in fear of sudden detention?
- How should immigration officials balance the need for security with fairness and mercy for those with long histories in the United States 🇺🇸?
Ward’s case has made many immigrants think differently about travel. Some green card holders may worry about leaving the United States 🇺🇸, even for urgent family matters abroad. They wonder if coming back could mean unexpected detention because of something they thought was long in the past.
A Closer Look at the Impact of Expunged Convictions
Many people believe that once their state criminal records are cleared through a process called expungement, their past actions are behind them. In California, expungement is meant to give people a second chance. But federal immigration rules do not always recognize this process.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the U.S. immigration system uses federal criminal records when making decisions at the border or during green card renewals. This means that even expunged cases can surface again and cause problems.
These differences can lead to confusion. Someone may get legal advice in their home state about what an expungement means, only to discover the federal government sees things differently.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Cliona Ward and the Broader Community?
Now that Cliona Ward is back home in Santa Cruz, her case is closed and she is free. But her experience serves as a warning and a lesson for other permanent residents and their families.
The advocates who fought for Ward hope her case will spark changes in how federal immigration laws treat expunged convictions. Many believe that people like Ward—those who have shown they have changed and are good community members—should not face harsh penalties for decades-old actions, especially when state judges have already forgiven them.
Immigration lawyers are urging green card holders with a history of arrests or convictions, even ones wiped clean by state courts, to review their records at the federal level before traveling abroad. This can mean talking with an immigration lawyer and even checking the official list of deportable offenses on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Key Points from the Cliona Ward Case
- Cliona Ward, a longtime Santa Cruz resident and Irish citizen, was detained by ICE after returning from a trip abroad due to old convictions expunged by state courts but still showing up on her federal record.
- Strong support from the Santa Cruz community, her family, a GoFundMe drive, and political help from Congressman Jimmy Panetta were key in securing her release.
- Her case shows the problems that can happen when state and federal criminal records do not match up, and how even lawful permanent residents can face sudden immigration action.
- Immigration advocates are pushing for changes to better protect long-term residents from being penalized for very old, cleared offenses.
Conclusion
The case of Cliona Ward stands as an example of how immigration laws can sometimes clash with state efforts to give people a fresh start. Ward’s experience in ICE detention, and the local response in Santa Cruz, show the need for clearer laws and more humane policies. The broad public support and eventual result reveal how community action and legal advocacy can really make a difference.
Anyone with a green card should know that federal laws can treat expunged convictions differently than state laws do. Staying informed, seeking help before traveling, and understanding both sets of laws are the best ways to avoid similar trouble.
Ward’s story is a reminder that while rules are important, compassion and second chances are needed in any fair immigration system. As this story continues to be discussed in Santa Cruz and across the country, it raises hope for more sensible and kind approaches for immigrants who have built their lives in the United States 🇺🇸.
Learn Today
Lawful Permanent Resident → A non-citizen authorized to live and work permanently in the U.S.; holder of a valid green card.
Expungement → A legal process where a criminal conviction is erased from a person’s state record, often not recognized by federal immigration.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration law and detaining non-citizens, including permanent residents.
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) → Primary federal law governing U.S. immigration and citizenship, sets rules for deportation and admissibility.
Deportable Offense → A criminal act that, under federal law, can lead to the removal or deportation of a non-citizen from the United States.
This Article in a Nutshell
Cliona Ward’s ICE detention shocked Santa Cruz, sparking debate about fairness for green card holders with expunged convictions. Despite living in the U.S. for decades, old state-cleared offenses led to her arrest. Powerful community action and political support resulted in her swift release, highlighting gaps between state and federal policies.
— By VisaVerge.com
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