Seán Mackin is an Irish republican from Belfast, Northern Ireland and a fundraiser for the Friends of Sinn Féin (FOSF).
Seán and his family went to the United States and applied for political asylum, alleging harassment and threats from the security forces and Immigration Judge Annette Elstein granted Philomena and Jennifer Mackin 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 2 younger sons, Seán Óg and Kieran, who are both United States citizen by birth. The entire family have since become United States citizens.