McAllister reported to the offices of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) in Newark, New Jersey, under an order to surrender with his bags packed, ready to be deported. He was accompanied in court by his wife, family members, and supporters of his right to live in this country. They met in front of the building carrying Irish and U.S. flags and other banners. A press conference was held before McAllister entered the immigration offices with his lawyer. Major news coverage was given to the case by local radio and TV stations.

McAllister, 46, a former member of the Irish National Liberation Army, has gone through several appeals in his petition for political asylum for himself and his family. The McAllister family fled their home in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1988 after an assassination attempt and continued harassment by pro-British paramilitary groups.

On November 17 an immigration board issued another rejection of McAllister’s asylum request and ordered his immediate deportation, on the basis of a conviction Malachy received from British authorities stemming from his political activities in Northern Ireland. The board also revoked the asylum status granted to his wife and children in 2000, arguing that the family faces no risk if sent back to Ireland.

Subsequently, in a federal appeals court in Philadelphia, his attorneys were able to win a stay of deportation. BICE authorities insisted, however, that the ruling allowed them to jail him while awaiting the next hearing.

When McAllister reported to the BICE offices in Newark December 1, however, the authorities decided to not to carry out their threat to arrest him until his federal court hearing, which may take place early next year.

“We feel that this outcome is due only to the intense public and media pressure,” said Deanna Turner, of the Irish American Unity Conference in a statement soon after McAllister walked back out the front doors of the BICE offices just before 3:00 p.m. to be welcomed by his supporters.

Sarah Katz in Newark contributed to this article.  
 
 
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