Donna Hughes-Brown
Donna Hughes-Brown is a 58-year-old Irish grandmother and US green card holder who has been in the news for facing potential deportation after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon returning to the U.S. from a family visit in Ireland. She was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare airport due to a 2015 misdemeanour related to a $25 cheque, despite having been cleared by customs officials prior to her flight. Hughes-Brown has lived in the U.S. for nearly 50 years, is married to a US Navy veteran, and is an active community member known for organizing food drives and supporting families in need.
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Recent news mentions
Donna Hughes Brown was detained by immigration officials and has since become an advocate for other immigrants.
‘If I am the worst of the worst then America has a bigger problem than it thinks’ – The Irish Times
Ireland· 2026-02-21
She was detained over two cheques that bounced years ago and which she subsequently cleared.
Deportations of Irish citizens from US rose 330%, Dáil hears – The Irish TimesIreland· 2026-02-05
Donna Hughes-Brown spoke of her relief after being released from a US immigration detention centre.
‘It’s fabulous’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-12-22
Donna Hughes-Brown is an Irish woman who has been held in a US immigration detention centre since July and is to be released following a court hearing.
Irish grandmother Donna Hughes-Brown to be released from US custody – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-12-18
Donna Hughes-Brown is an Irish citizen detained by US immigration officials facing deportation.
Case of Irish grandmother (58) detained by ICE to be reviewed by Trump’s homeland security chief – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-12-11
Donna Hughes-Brown is a green card holder who has been detained by ICE and faces deportation.
Jim Brown’s battle in Washington to free his Irish wife from Ice detention – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-20
Donna Hughes-Brown is facing deportation to Ireland due to two prior convictions for fraud.
Number of Irish citizens deported from US up by more than 50%
United Kingdom· 2025-11-01
Donna Hughes-Brown is an Irish woman who has been held in an ICE detention centre since late July and is facing deportation.
‘It is nefarious what they are doing’, says husband of Irishwoman facing US deportation – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-10-30
Donna Hughes-Brown represents a perfect storm of the worst fears of immigrant communities when it comes to the spectre of the ICE patrols.
Irish grandmother’s ICE ordeal shows risks facing documented and undocumented immigrants in US – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-12
Donna Hughes-Brown is facing deportation after being arrested and detained in the US over a $25 cheque.
‘ICE’ places Irish grandmother and green card holder in US isolation cell over $25 cheque – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-10
