A U.S. citizen and military veteran is speaking out against the potential deportation of his Irish wife, who has lived in the United States since she was 11. Donna Hughes-Brown, a green card holder, was arrested in July upon returning to the U.S. from a holiday in Ireland. Her husband, Jim Brown, says her detention and the subsequent deportation proceedings are based on a petty crime—a $25 bad check—she wrote a decade ago.
Mr. Brown, who lives with his wife on a horse farm in Troy, Missouri, described the situation as “just crazy and insane” and “unreal that someone can be treated like vermin for a petty crime that was committed ten years ago.” He stated his wife has a deportation hearing scheduled for September 17 and hopes their legal team can present a valid case to prevent her removal.
According to Mr. Brown, the issue stems from a 2015 incident where Ms. Hughes-Brown, a grandmother of five, wrote an overdrawn check. She received probation and made restitution at the time, believing the matter was resolved. However, she was arrested by a police officer as soon as she and her husband landed at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
After being told she had “paperwork to do,” Ms. Hughes-Brown was transferred to an ICE detention center in Kentucky five days later. Mr. Brown claims he has been unable to contact his wife for the past five days as she is in “medical isolation.” He suspects this is due to her refusal to eat the food provided at the facility, which he says does not meet her low-sodium dietary needs. He believes authorities are attempting to limit her commentary on the food and conditions.
The case highlights the increasing scrutiny and detention of legal permanent residents (green card holders) with minor or old criminal infractions, a trend that has been amplified under recent immigration policies. A Department of Homeland Security official has previously stated that “lawful permanent residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with certain criminal convictions may be found inadmissible, placed in removal proceedings, and subject to mandatory detention.”
Mr. Brown has expressed deep regret for his vote in the last presidential election, stating he “100 percent” regrets his decision. He noted the stark difference between the public narrative of deporting “bad criminals” and the reality he is now facing, where “innocent people” are also being targeted.
The financial strain of the legal battle is also a concern for the family, with Mr. Brown having already spent approximately $7,000 on legal fees. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family with these mounting costs.
Donna Hughes-Brown’s deportation hearing is a crucial date for her family, as a removal order could bar her from returning to the U.S. for up to 10 years, separating her from her husband and family. Sources and related content
