Keith Byrne's brother, Greg, said Keith called him yesterday from Pike County detention centre and that an ICE official presented him with a deal. He is also stepfather to Mrs Byrne’s 13-year-old son Ezra, his family said. He originally travelled to the US on the Visa Waiver Programme but did not leave when his permitted time in the country expired. Mr Byrne said a US immigration judge only hears deportation appeals under exceptional circumstances. The Byrne family is pleading for intervention from "the powers that be" to give discretion considering - what they say - is Mr Byrne's contribution to American society.

Source: Irish Examiner July 17, 2019 08:03 UTC