The rigid application of US immigration enforcement measures has led to a deeply personal tragedy for Maher Tarabishi, a Jordanian national whose detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prevented him from attending to his ailing son, Wael, or his subsequent funeral. For three decades, Tarabishi provided intensive, round-the-clock care for Wael, who lived with the severe genetic disorder Pompe disease, requiring constant medical oversight.
Tarabishi had previously lived under a court-mandated 'supervision order' allowing his presence in the US to care for his son, despite an earlier removal order. This arrangement required annual check-ins with ICE, which he maintained for over twenty years, providing documentation regarding his son’s complex medical needs. However, during his check-in last October, ICE agents took him into custody, a move framed by his family as a direct consequence of the administration's hardened immigration stance.
Family members detailed the severe psychological and physical strain Wael endured during his father's absence, noting critical incidents, such as a dislodged feeding tube, that required remote consultation with Tarabishi via video link. Wael’s sister-in-law stated that the separation contributed to a marked decline in his health, culminating in his death last week. The family directly attributes the severity of Wael’s final months to ICE's custody decision.
Legal appeals for temporary release, both when Wael was near death and afterwards for the Arlington, Texas funeral rites, were reportedly denied. Lawyer Ali Elhorr described bureaucratic hurdles in attempting to secure even a virtual visitation, and ultimately, a definitive denial for funeral attendance, suggesting the decision originated from 'higher up' in the agency hierarchy.
ICE’s refusal to grant humanitarian release stands in stark contrast to the family’s narrative, which portrays Tarabishi as a devoted caregiver with no criminal history. Furthermore, legal efforts are underway to challenge Tarabishi’s original removal order, focusing on allegations of fraud in the initial immigration paperwork filed nearly two decades ago.
ICE has previously issued statements linking Tarabishi to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which the agency labeled a 'terrorist organization.' Tarabishi’s counsel strongly refutes this characterization, noting that the PLO maintains a diplomatic presence in the US and that Tarabishi has had zero involvement with the group.
This incident rapidly evolves from an individual legal case into a broader debate concerning the balance between immigration enforcement priorities and basic humanitarian considerations within the US administrative state. The outcome of Tarabishi’s ongoing immigration proceedings will now carry added weight following his son's death.
*Source: Adapted from Al Jazeera reports on the case of Maher Tarabishi.*