“You don’t arrest 58-year-old grandmothers,” her husband said. But she passed a bad $25 check ten years ago, so adios! er… Slán leat!

Donna, an Irish citizen who came to the U.S. at age 11 and has held a green card for decades, recently traveled to Ireland for a family funeral. Upon her return at Chicago customs this July, she was arrested by ICE despite her long-standing lawful status.

Jim expresses deep frustration, saying, “It’s just not fair that you’re telling me I have to be a bachelor the rest of my life because of some stupid policy”. He describes their simple, shared life of faith and community, noting how Donna always stood up for those in need. Now, she finds herself in a Kentucky county jail, where she’s been detained for over a month, accused of being a flight risk despite 47 years spent in the U.S., being married, and having five children and five grandchildren.

Jim says the basis for her detention stems from a ten-year-old incident: Donna wrote a $25 bad check, paid it back, and received probation. Yet ICE now classifies that offense as a “crime involving moral turpitude,” a vague legal standard applied by immigration authorities. Courts generally define such crimes as “inherently base, vile or depraved, contrary to accepted rules of morality,” yet many argue the label is being over-applied.

Jim condemns the policy as a cruel overreach and links it to the Trump administration’s toughened immigration stance. He describes Donna’s detention as unlawful and says he spends hours each day calling officials, advocating for her release, and protesting what he calls the “deplorable” jail conditions.

Neither their congressional representatives nor state leaders have offered help. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s office responded that it is a “federal issue” alone. Jim, a 20-year veteran, said, “You fought for these freedoms that are being taken away from her… it’s just crazy that this is even allowed in this country”. He vows not to stop fighting for his wife’s freedom and hopes for her return home soon.

Summary Highlights

• Donna, an Irish-born green card holder living in the U.S. for nearly 50 years, was detained by ICE in July when returning from Ireland.

• Her detention stems from a minor, decade-old bad check incident, now deemed a “crime of moral turpitude” by immigration authorities.

• Jim, her husband and a U.S. military veteran, argues this is unjust and politically motivated, leaving him alone on their farm.

• Efforts to secure her release have been unsuccessful so far, while local officials defer responsibility.

• Jim has launched a GoFundMe page and pledges part of any proceeds to support others facing similar struggles

Source: FIRSTALERT4