December 10, 2003 Malachy McAllister Released
From the law offices of Smith Dornan & Shea PC

The Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") finally permitted common sense and decency to prevail and allowed Malachy McAllister to return to his family home in Wallington, New Jersey under an Order of Supervision to resume a normal working and family life, pending the decision on his case from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Order simply requires that Malachy report to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") in Newark on Friday of each week.

The decision came down from DHS headquarters in Washington, D.C. and was brought about as a direct result of substantial political pressure from several Congressional Representatives, led by Congressman Stephen R. Rothman (D-NJ9). This afternoon, Reps. Rothman and Eliot Engel (D-NY17) were on hand to greet Malachy upon his release from custody, and both made strong public statements of support for the McAllister family and their long struggle to remain in the United States.

An elated Malachy McAllister stated that his family had been through "an emotional rollercoaster" and expressed "eternal gratitude to everyone who has lent support to [his] family over the last few weeks." He stated that the McAllisters had received "an enormous groundswell of support from the Irish-American community, and from groups like the IAUC and AOH in particular." On behalf of his family he expressed his deepest gratitude to Congressman Rothman for championing his cause, and to Reps. Eliot Engel, Ben Gilman, Sen. Lautenberg, and all the co-signatories to Steve Rothman's letter, for their personal involvement and attention to his family's plight.

See http://rothman.house.gov/news_releases/rel_120103.htm

Malachy stated that "today we have witnessed the result of democracy in action. Without the support of Irish-America, our Representatives and Senators, and without the media shining a light on this case, I have no doubt but that I would have been arrested, shackled and shipped out to face my persecutors. Bernie and I have only ever sought the chance to raise our family in an atmosphere free from fear and bigotry, and give them opportunities that were denied us."

He went on to say: "we still have a lot of work to do until this government recognizes that my family, and other Irish nationals in similar situations, present no danger to the safety and security of the United States. We must keep moving toward that goal, but today has been a significant victory for democracy and justice."

Contact information: Eamonn Dornan, Esq., edornan@sds-law.com,
(212) 370-5316

Sean Downes, Esq., (212) 248-2868
SMITH DORNAN & SHEA PC
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