Malachy McAllister and his supporters have been battling his deportation back to Ireland for years.
In 1998, McAllister, his wife Bernadette (who has since passed away), and their four children fled Northern Ireland for the US after pro-British loyalists fired 26 rounds of ammunition into their home.
McAllister and his children have lived in New Jersey for over 20 years; he has been granted multiple stays of removal by the US Department of Homeland Security since 2007.
On June 8, supporters announced that a “March with Malachy McAllister” would be held outside of the Peter Rodino Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey on June 9 as a show of support for the Irish man.
It was also organized “the hope that someone in government might take notice of this atrocity.”
On Tuesday morning, dozens of people gathered to support McAllister before he ultimately turned himself in. Among that crowd was Dan Dennehy, the immigration director with the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). McAllister is a member of the AOH, who has been steadfast in demanding that McAllister’s deportation be halted.
Dennehy told Irish Central that the gathering on June 9 included McAllister’s family, friends, supporters, and more than 50 members of the AOH.
The group was led by a bagpiper, and Sean Ruane sang “Only Our Rivers Run Free.” Father Brian Jordan gave McAllister a blessing, a video of which was shared on the “Keep Malachy McAllister in the U.S.” Facebook page:
The caption alongside the video of the blessing read: “Shortly after that, we were informed that they are detaining him [McAllister] overnight in the Elizabeth detention center and flying him by himself in a medical transport plan back to Ireland.
“So instead of granting a short term medical extension whereby Malachy could recuperate and travel back via commercial air, DHS / ICE is detaining him in a jail overnight and using hundreds of thousands of tax dollars funds to fly him home to claim victory.”
The caption added that one of McAllister’s children said: “Just learned that my Dad called before he had to hand his phone in. He is being transported to the detention center and will be spending the night there, he will be deported tomorrow.”
The Facebook page also shared the video of McAllister entering the federal building at 12 noon, accompanied by his attorney Diane George:
Dennehy told IrishCentral that “Malachy spoke eloquently about his support, particularly from the AOH” before he entered the federal building.
“His collarbone may be broken, but he was completely unbowed,” Dennehy said, adding: “How ICE could spend tens of thousands of dollars to send him home in the middle of a pandemic with a broken collarbone in an air ambulance is beyond me.”
Afterward, the Facebook page said: “Our fight is not over. We did everything in our power. On behalf of Malachy and his family thank you.”
Bob Menendez, the US senator for the state of New Jersey, said a statement later in the day on Tuesday: “Today is a sad day for the McAllister family and New Jersey’s Irish community. Deporting a community leader who poses no national security or public safety threat is not only a clear injustice, but also contrary to our nation’s values.
“By forcefully deporting Mr. McAllister to a place he fled because his life was put in danger, the Trump Administration is showing the immorality of their indiscriminate immigration policies.”
Senator Menendez added: “This man’s deportation is shameful and will not make America safer. Mr. McAllister is a good man who built a life for himself and his family in the United States for over 20 years and has been a tireless advocate for the Irish Peace Process, but Trump’s deportation force dismissed his extraordinary equities and will deport him anyways.
“I’m proud to have worked for many years to keep Malachy McAllister and his family together and hope they can be reunited in the future.”
Yesterday, Friday June 5th, MALACHY McALLISTER was notified by ICE/DHS he will be deported this Tuesday June 9.
Malachy McAllister, his family and his supporters have for almost a quarter of a century fought for permanent legal status so the McAllister family can remain in America. For 24 years, Malachy has complied with all U.S. laws, started two successful job-producing businesses, and, due to the untimely death of his first wife, raised two families with children and grandchildren, who are U.S. citizens
DHS/ICE completely ignores the facts of the Northern Ireland conflict which drove Malachy to seek refuge in America and disregards the Good Friday Agreement by treating Malachy as a criminal.
They ignore Cardinal Dolan, Senators Robert Menendez and Charles Schumer, Congressmen Peter King a former chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Chris Smith who has chaired 19 congressional hearings on human rights in Northern Ireland, Richard Neal chairman of Friends of Ireland, Elliot Engel Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , Bill Pascrell Malachy’s own congressman, and they ignore Irish American community leaders and law enforcement officials who support Malachy.
DHS/ICE literally adds insult to the injury which Malachy sustained last week when he was struck by a car and suffered a broken collarbone that needs medical treatment and makes him unfit for travel. Despite receiving medical documentation and X-rays, DHS/ICE forced him to appear at the Elizabeth Detention Center for a “medical exam” but did not examine his injury or provide the “exam” results. They ignore his severe pain and the serious possibility of compounding his injury.
Irish America cannot and will not continue to tolerate these actions That’s why we ask you once again to act EARLY on Monday June 8 to join Cardinal Dolan, Representatives and Legislators from both parties, to keep pressing President Trump and DHS Secretary Chad Wolf to allow McAllister to maintain residence in America.
Contact your member of Congress and ask that they contact Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf on Monday and have them add their voices to our plea for DHS Secretary Chad Wolf to allow McAllister to maintain residence in America. Remind them you are Irish American and you vote. Ask for confirmation that they have called and please post your name and the name of the representative you contacted on our Facebook page.
Also please Tweet and share the following (below is 278 characters and will fit within twitter guidelines).
@RealDonaldTrump for the sake of the GFA only you can prevent the June 9 deportation of Malachy McAllister, a law-abiding Irish American community leader. Judge Trump Barry cited the injustice in deporting McAllister. Instruct @DHS_Wolf to grant permanent deferral. IRISH AMERICA
If you do not have access to Twitter call the Homeland Security public comment line at 202-282-8495, it will go right to voicemail just leave your message to ask that Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf grant Malachy McAllister permanent residence.
On behalf of Malachy he would like to thank everyone who has supported him and his family’s long struggle for justice.
Malachy McAllister had to report this morning at 10am for a medical evaluation of his fitness to travel.
He suffered a broken collarbone last week,is in severe pain and needs medical treatment.
The evaluation consisted of asking him a couple of questions and not even examining his injury.
It was like something out of Castlereagh Interrogation Centre when a so-called doctor would say Republicans were fit for more interrogation without bothering to look.
He was told to phone at 10am this Monday and every Monday.
Key Congressional and Church leaders are not giving up and have been in contact with the President.
2- The link above is to a story about this year’s George McBrearty Commemoration in Derry. George was killed in May 1981 by British undercover SAS Troopers.
Usually the commemoration gets a large crowd representing a wide range of of Nationalists.
Last year included at least one former IRA Chief of Staff, Hunger Striker’s families, Bloody Sunday relatives and representatives of all nationalist parties.
Floral wreaths are left by many groups.
This year the Committee decided because of the health crisis to restrict the commemoration to a few family member representatives showing that Derry does not forget its real heroes.
3-We are scheduling another video interview with an FFAI Christmas Appeal grant recipient this week.
Anyone who has constructive criticisms or suggestions should email me -we are trying to improve and make these the best we can for you so your input is welcome.
