The news
we have fought so hard not to hear has arrived, Pòl was
deported today and arrived in Shannon and was taken
through the airport without being arrested, he is now
safe with family. We in the Pòl Brennan Support Group
wish to thank everyone for their support of Pòl and his
family and ask that knowing that Pòl’s case was such a
travesty of justice that you continue to support Pòl and
others who are now under threat.
Pòl will
be resting for a while and adjusting to his ordeal so we
will not be updating the site or commenting to the media
until we hear from him.
As you
know Pòl is one of a list of former Irish political
prisoners targeted here in the US for deportation
because of their past political activities, they have
been targeted in average every few years.
This must
stop we urge our friends and supporters to support the
efforts of the AOH in bringing this practice to an end
they along with other prominent Irish groups are
organizing a campaign to bring about the end of this
unfair and inhumane act.
You can
contact
Daniel
O'Connell,National
ImmigrationChair,
The Ancient Order of Hibernians atdjoconnell@ysu.edu Tel;
13305184450 and join with Irish America in expressing
our disgust at the treatment of Pòl Brennan and his
family and of those others now living in fear of the
knock on the door, this was just one battle in a much
bigger and more sinister picture.
As we said we will be waiting word from
Pòl on how he now wishes to convert his fight against
deportation to being allowed to return to the US to be
with his family so we ask for patience and
understanding, And let there be no doubt that we will
continue to support Pòl and others in his position in
any way we can and we ask that you continue the
fantastic work you done and channel your anger in the
direction it will be best used for the likes of Pòl and
his and other families.
We
are asking everyone who has the ability to fax, to send
a letter to the White House using the following number
1-202-456-2461
Put
on it, For attention of
President
Obama and
Vice
President Biden re Pól
Brennan asking them to intervene on Pól’s
behalf and contact Homeland Security Director Janet
Napolitano asking her to act favourably and grant Pól
a waiver of the terrorist bar.
National Board of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians
in America letter to Homeland Security
asking for bail.
Mr.
Brennan does not present
a security risk to the
United States and his
incarceration serves no
purpose in consideration
of the Peace Process in
Northern Ireland and the
United States interest
in supporting the new
government. Mr. Brennan
is married to a citizen
of the United States and
the conditions of his
entry into the United
States in 1984 have been
previously waived.
The A.O.H. National Board would ask that a
reasonable offer of bond be made to Mr. Brennan
to assure his compliance and attendance at subsequent
Immigration Hearings as well as good conduct in
the interim. We ask that Mr. Brennan be allowed
to contest the process of removal while being
released on bond. We believe that his history
proves that he is neither a flight risk nor a
danger to the USA.
US Congressmen call for Pól Brennan
to be released on Bail
Mr. Brennan’s
continued detention without bond appears to serve no end
that is consistent with the interest of the United States
to foster a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. With his
marriage to a United States citizen and provisions in
the law to waive his prior unlawful presence in the U.S.,
Mr.
Brennan ought to be granted the-opportunity to contest
the charge of removal with the privilege of release
on bond. His continued detention is not justified for
the security of the United States or its people nor
is he a flight risk.
On
26th
day of April The
California State Boards of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians AND the Ladies AOH met in
San Diego where they passed motions of support
for Pol Brennan and his family the resolutions
read as follows
We are asking supporters of Pól to contact their elected representatives and ask that they support Pol's request that Homeland Security drop their opposition to bail and allow him the opportunity to fight his case in a fairer manner.
Statement of
support from
Coiste na
nIarchimi
I wish to
express my
solidarity to
Pól
Brennan and
express my hope
for an early
release. No
doubt we all
send our best
wishes to Pol’s
partner in the
US and his
family here in
Belfast.
I received a
letter from
Pól
last week.
Needless to say,
under the
circumstances of
a long
incarceration,
Pol sounds up
beat and
resolute in his
quest for
justice.
Pól’s
many years of
incarceration in
the 1980s and
90s in the US
had taught him
to be patient
and expect the
very worse.
The peace
process in
Ireland and the
agreement had
set about the
eventual release
of
Pól
Brennan
and other former
Irish republican
prisoners both
here in Ireland
and in the US.
Pol had gained a
work permit and
went about
building a life
for himself.
Then this
January
Pól
was
arrested without
charge in Texas
and has been
held in solitary
confinement
since. It is
this harsh
incarceration
that must be
challenged by
all of us.
Below is the
text of
Pól's audio
we apologies
for the poor
quality as
it was
recorded
over a
mobile phone
from his
detention
center.
Friends and
Supporters:
I just
recently was
informed
that I now
have a
deportation
date of the
18th
of May, just
over one
week away.
We will,
however, be
applying for
a stay of
deportation
tomorrow,
Monday, May
10.
We
are looking
to have as
many people
call their
congressman
and
senatorial
representative
to urge them
to
personally
call the
Director of
Homeland
Security,
Janet
Napolitano,
and postpone
the
deportation.
This will
allow her to
review and
hopefully
grant my
request for
a waiver in
my case.
This is my
last chance
– we shall
have to
pressure
Homeland
Security and
secure
enough time
for my legal
team to
prepare all
documentation
needed to
support my
waiver.
Janet
Napolitano
has sole and
unreviewable
discretion
whether or
not to grant
this waiver.
I would like
to thank
everybody
who has
helped so
far and to
urge them to
push for
this one
last drive
for time to
work for us.
Anything you
can do now
is greatly
appreciated
and needed,
no matter
what the
outcome.
Many
thanks
Pól Brennan (Irish Detainee)
Click below to send
Pól an
Email, We will print them of and send them to
Pól
and he will answer them direct
Message
from
Pòl
We
spoke
to
Pòl
in
the
last
few
days,
he
asks
that
we
pass
on
his
personal
thanks
and
gratitude
to
everyone
who
has
supported
his
campaign
against
deportation
and
to
tell
you
he
will
be
in
touch
personally
with
a
lot
of
those
that
supported
him,
He wants
everyone to know
that he will
continue to
fight to be
allowed back
into the US to
be with his
family and
friends.
His
campaign will be
adjusted to
fight to this
end and the
website and
other avenues
will reflect the
change in
campaign.
Pòl
will be taking a
few weeks to
adjust and adapt
to his new
surroundings and
will be working
with his legal
team and others
to see how best
to achieve his
goal of being
reunited with
his family in
the US.
We ask that
everyone who has
supported this
travesty of
justice will
support Pòl in
his efforts
thank you all.
Asked about the case
of Pol Brennan from Belfast, who was one of the 38 escapees
in the IRA break-out from the Maze Prison in 1983 and
is now facing possible deportation from the US unless
she grants him a waiver, she says: “Yes and that’s still
in process, in other words that decision-memo has not
come to me yet. But he’s still there.”
You
can
send
money
directly
into
Pól's Account
to
aid
him
and
his
family:
to
receive
the
banking
information
please
email
information@polbrennan.com
and
we
will
insure
you
receive
it
promptly.
DONATIONS
TO
PÓL'S
LEGAL
DEFENSE
FUND:
Checks
or
money
orderscan
be
made
out
to
Joanna Volz or Pol Brennan and
sent to
Joanna
Volz
or
Pol
Brennan
P.O.
Box
3684
South
Padre
Island,
TX
78597
OR IF YOU HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT:
MAKE
A
DONATION,
via
PayPal.
Contributing
a
gift
of
any
size
is
greatly
appreciated
and
the
money
goes
directly
to
Pol
and
his
family.
Whatever
you
decide
to
give,
you
will
be
helping
this
family
cope
with
what
is a
horrendous
burden
both
on
the
financial
and
emotional
levels,
Knowing
people
are
supporting
them
is a
great
comfort
to
Joanna
and
Pol
and
they
send
profound
thanks
to
those
that
have
shown
support.
Again,
thank
you
for
your
support
go
raibh
maith
agat
The
Brazenheads
have
written
a
song
for
Pol
and
are
encouraging
you
to
post
it
in
as
many
places
as
you
can
so
it
may
help
bring
some
visibility
and
perhaps
a
bit
of
old
fashioned
activism
to
Pol's
plight
through
music.
Borrow
it,
take
it,
email
it,
post
it
--
Please
join
us
in
getting
it
out
there.
Funds
collected
through
direct
sales
of
the
early
release
of
this
single
will
go
directly
to
Pol's
family.
Pól
Brennan
# A88 785
324 Port Isabel Processing Center
27991 Buena Vista Blvd,
Los Fresnos,
TX 78566.
Irish Republican
political
refugee Pól
Brennan is once
again in prison
after being
stopped at a
Border Patrol
check point over
100 miles from
the Mexican
border.
Statement from Pol Brennan
I
would like to thank Congressmen
Peter King, Richard Neal and Jim
Walsh for their public support
through their letter asking
Homeland Security to drop their
opposition to bail and allow me
to fight my case in a fairer
manner, free from the
restrictions that imprisonment
causes.
I would also
like to thank Sinn Fein and
especially Rita
O Hare for their continued hard
work on my behalf. And indeed
everyone that is working on my
behalf, I extend my gratitude
and thanks.
Your continued
support is very much
appreciated.
Is Mise
Pól Brennan
(Irish Detainee)
Download
Support
Flyer
for
Pól
below
in
Word
or
PDF
format Click
on
icons
Below
May 14, 2008
I am writing from my
cell here at the Port
Isabel Detention Center
in Texas . I would like
to thank everyone who
has taken time to write
me letters, sent me
cards, and purchased and
sent in the books that
have been listed on this
site and elsewhere. All
these things help make
my days in here much
more tolerable than they
otherwise would be.
And to everyone who has
shown interest and
concern about my case
and has contributed, no
matter how little, you
have my heartfelt
thanks. As the case
progresses we will
update the site to keep
you all informed as to
how individuals can
further help in whatever
ways reveal themselves.
I
would also bring to your
attention the plight of
other Irish Republican
ex-prisoners who have
made their homes here in
the US, who are, like
myself, being harassed
by Homeland Security and
are living under the
constant threat of
similar treatment as
myself. There will be
more information on all
this presented as we get
it coming in the weeks
ahead.
Again, many, many
thanks.
Pól Brennan
Pól's own stories click on links
below
Read Póls
account of the
escape from
the H Blocks.
Click
on picture to
read
Click on the link above to go to our How you can help page
Pól's Family Awareness Campaign
A chairde,
Pól’s father Joe, brothers and sisters Patrick, Edmund, Linda, Marian, Kathleen, Moya, Joanne and Sal all support Pol’s fight against deportation and have been working to raise awareness of his plight. The Ballymurphy community are very supportive of us in our efforts, through the Ballymurphy Ex-Prisoners group, the Resource Centre and our friends and neighbours.
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