Cliona Ward, a 54-year-old Irish-born resident of Santa Cruz, remains detained by federal immigration authorities in Tacoma, Washington, after returning from Ireland. Despite initially expecting a court hearing on May 7, her family learned she may be detained for months as she has not yet been processed in the immigration system. Ward describes harsh conditions in detention, including undrinkable water and fear of food. Communication with her family is limited, and she shares her space with other distressed detainees, many of whom are non-English speakers.
"She could be looking at being in there for months," Ward's sister, Orla Holladay, said Monday. "When I have been able to speak to her, she's terrified."
Ward reported that the water was undrinkable and that the food tasted awful and that she was afraid to eat it. She also told her sister that she's been confined with several other women that are also navigating the detention process and were similarly panicked.
Holladay said communication with her sister has been challenging, but when they have been able to speak over the phone, Ward described harsh and uncomfortable living conditions.
Most of them are non-English speakers, but that there are a lot of tears and a lot of hugs," said Holladay, adding that her sister was able to see some in-person visitors recently from the Irish Consulate.
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