Name Sean Mackin | ||
Seán Mackin is an Irish republican from Belfast, Northern Ireland and a fundraiser for the Friends of Sinn Féin (FOSF). Mackin, who had been a member of the Irish National Liberation Army, left Belfast with his family and applied for political asylum in the United States, alleging harassment and threats from the security forces. Mackin was also under threat from a murderous internal feud within the INLA. Immigration Judge Annette Elstein granted Mackin's wife and daughter Philomena and Jennifer political asylum in 1991. Seán Mackin was not granted asylum (as is sometimes misreported) but was granted "suspension of deportation," a different (and, ironically, faster) route to permanent residency and U.S. citizenship. The Mackins also have two sons, Seán Óg and Kieran, who are both United States citizens by birth. The entire family have since become United States citizens. In 2004, Mackin was detained by police while visiting Belfast, which was interpreted by many as an attempt to disrupt or discredit Mackin's work for FOSF.