Posted on 07/12/2025 4:15:50 AM PDT by 11th_VA
Gabe Megahey (82), one of a group of Irish republicans known as the "deportees" who had been allowed by President Clinton to remain in America, has been ordered to leave the United States by way of a letter from the Department of Homeland Security.
Others in the group, which includes Belfast H-Block escapees Terence Kirby and Kevin Barry Artt who live openly in California, seem, so far, not to have attracted the attention of the US authorities.
In 1983, Gabe Megahey was convicted in an FBI sting of trying to procure SAM missiles to enable the IRA to step up its campaign in the North. He served time in federal prison. However, he was not deported on his release in 1988. In the run-up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, President Clinton agreed to allow IRA members on the run and other former prisoners facing deportation to remain in the US.
Now the fate of those former prisoners remains unclear.
But questions are being asked about the letter to Belfast native Megahey who has been in the US since the 1970s. It's a single page document and is unsigned.
And legal observers point to possible inaccuracies in the letter.
Megahey, now a great grandfather, has been allowed remain in the United States over the years as a result of the annual granting of 'deferred status'.
The letter said all his government benefits will cease on Oct. 23 2025. Meghaey says that means he won’t be able to afford the medications he needs to manage a heart condition once that happens. “It would cost me $4,000 to $5,000 a month to pay for it on my own,” he said. “I can’t afford that. I’ll have to go home,” said Magahey, who was born in Ardoyne. He and his American born wife, Patricia McConnell Magahey have six children, 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
There is no reference to deferred status in the letter though it states that Megahey is "currently here because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paroled you into the United States for a limited period."
The letter, which is headed "Notice of Termination of Parole," warns Megahey to "not attempt to unlawfully remain in the United States - the federal government will find you. Please depart the United States immediately."
The letter makes no reference to Megahey's status in the U.S. as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. It makes no reference to his American family whatsoever.
Megahey came to the U.S. in 1975. His presence was the subject of an immigration case in the mid-90s which was never fully adjudicated. He served time in federal custody but was subsequently allowed remain in the U.S. as a result of a 1997 decision by Janet Reno, who was U.S. Attorney General during the Clinton administration. That decision stayed deportation proceedings against seven alleged former IRA members including Gabe Megahey.
At the time, Megahey, then 54 and working as an operating engineer for a Manhattan construction company, told the NY Times the announcement was ''a powerful step forward.''
The Department of Homeland Security letter could, it is understood, lead to a possible reopening of the long ago immigration case. But initial efforts are being directed to finding out whether the unsigned letter was possibly sent out in error and/or who precisely sent it.
Megahey lived in New York State for a number of years but in recent times has been a resident of Delaware.
A very appropriate time for this deportation and story... It’s Marching Day in Ireland. The day that the Protestant rulers of Ireland march around Northern Ireland showing everybody who’s in charge... And it isn’t the Republicans.
Sucks to be Gabe.
“BREAKING: Now Trump moves to deport veteran Belfast republican Gabe Megahey”
Bad enough that Trump (via Bondi) is not prosecuting Democrats...now he’s deporting Republicans.
That’s racist! Oh, wait…
Martin said the burning of the boat full of mannequins in life jackets in Moygashel was “unchristian” and “devoid of any appreciation for human dignity”. He said that what he finds most concerning about the bonfires, which are lit every year by loyalists in Northern Ireland ahead of their main marching day on 12 July, are the health and safety risks they pose. ..
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/taoiseach-calls-migrant-boat-effigy-unchristian-as-eleventh-night-bonfires-to-be-lit-across-north/ar-AA1IplS1?cvid=52cd3096553546ff903cd0bb1780bcc5&ocid=MSIDHP
How much in lives and property did his being an IRA terrorist cost others?
Deport more Irish. They hate us more than Mexicans.
Commit a felony -> get deported...
Add to the fact Trump has already deported Rosie O’Donnel.
Winning.😄
Most likely the Social Security and Medicare which he paid into all the years he was working in the U.S.
Since Janet Reno allowed he and the others to stay in the US, I don't see what the problem is. Unless the unsigned letter was a mistake, as implied by the article.
They used the word veteran for a purpose...
This guy is not an American citizen veteran...
Along with the German and the Cherokee, Mom said we had Black Irish.
I guess I wasn’t gonna be allowed to stay in Rock Ridge.
Too bad. I loved the variety of ice cream flavors at Howard Johnson’s too.
lol. These are republican in name only. Friends of Islamic terrorists, and former dictators like Qadaffi and Castro.
A terrorist and a moocher? Yet allowed to stay here after being convicted of attempting to acquire weapons of war?!?
Only in America…
The IRA is aligned with Marxists and was for importing islamists.
One of the big drug cartels in Europe is Irish and based in Dubai.
UK police arrest Pro-BDS Palestinian activist on terrorism charge
JPost ^ | August 31, 2020 | B Weinthal
Posted on 9/2/2020, 4:14:03 PM by Marinario
The paper said that Hijjawi was arrested at Heathrow airport and the 62-year-old’s house in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh was searched by Scottish police.
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, also known as BDS.
British authorities arrested the former chairman of the Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland Dr. Issam Hijjawi on Saturday for allegedly committing preparatory acts of terrorism in connection with the New Irish Republican Army.
He was the 10th person to be charged in a joint Police Service of Northern Ireland and MI5 investigation called Operation Arbacia, The Irish News reported Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ..
There goes the narrative that Trump only wants to deport people of color.
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