An Irish immigrant living in Wakefield, who has made international attention since his detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), fled the country in 2009 as he was facing drug charges, according to an Irish newspaper.

According to the Irish Times, a daily newspaper based in Dublin, Seamus Culleton, 38, was facing charges of possession of drugs and “possession of drugs for sale or supply,” and had a warrant issued for his arrest soon after he arrived in the United States as a tourist in 2009.

Culleton was arrested outside a Home Depot in Saugus by ICE agents back in September.

“The District Court in New Ross, Co Wexford, issued the warrant in April 2009 in respect of Culleton, of Kilbride, Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, over the alleged possession of drugs, and possession of drugs for sale or supply, at Ballyverneen, Glenmore, in May 2008,” the Irish Times reported in a Thursday update.

“He was also facing charges of allegedly obstructing a garda during a search by throwing 25 ecstasy tablets on the ground. A further warrant was issued by the same court in September 2009, in relation to an alleged criminal damage charge from September 2007 at Weatherstown, Glenmore,” the newspaper said.

Culleton’s lawyer, Ogor Winnie Okoye, held a virtual press conference Wednesday to raise awareness of his case and in the effort to get an immigration judge’s removal order against him waived by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She says Culleton applied for a green card soon after he and his wife, Tiffany Smith, got married back in April and that he’s already received a work permit.

“At the time of his arrest on September 9, Culleton informed ICE about his pending green card application and alien royalty petition that was pending. It didn’t make any difference. Culleton was also scheduled for his marriage-based green card interview in November. That one was again rescheduled to December 2025,” Okoye told reporters.

Okoye addressed questions about Culleton’s criminal charges back home in Ireland, saying she was “unaware” of his arrest warrants until recently.

“I can’t speak to a warrant. The alleged warrants appeared to have been issued subsequent to his move to the US in March 2009,” Okoye said.

Assistant DHS Sec. Tricia McLaughlin commented on Culleton’s situation Tuesday, saying that he is making a “choice” to stay in ICE custody.

“He was offered the chance to instantly be removed to Ireland but chose to stay in ICE custody, in fact he took affirmative steps to remain in detention. Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to use the CBP Home app to take control of their departure,” McLaughlin posted on X.

Okoye said after his arrest in Massachusetts, Culleton was first detained at ICE Boston’s Burlington facility before being transferred to a facility in Batavia, NY and then finally to where he is currently being held in El Paso, TX.

Culleton has been detained by ICE in El Paso for five months now. He and his lawyer say he has been treated inhumanely.

The Irish Times reports that arrest warrants in Ireland against Culleton remain in effect.

Culleton first came to the U.S. in 2009, entering as a tourist under the visa waiver program, however, he stayed long after the 90-day limit allowed under the program.

As of Thursday, over $27,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page in support of Culleton.