Irish Activist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey Barred Entry into U.S. at Chicago's O'Hare Airport

international | miscellaneous | feature Monday February 24, 2003 15:45 by IMC Editorial Group - IMC Ireland

Irish activist and former Member of Parliament, Bernadette Devlin McAliskey was detained by immigration officials in Chicago, February 21, and denied entry into the United States allegedly on "national security" grounds.

According to her daughter, Deirdre, two INS officers threatened to arrest, jail, and even shoot the legendary civil rights campaigner when she arrived at Chicago's O'Hare airport. McAliskey (56) was then photographed, finger-printed and returned to Ireland against her will on the grounds that the State Department had declared that she "poses a serious threat to the security of the United States."