The family of an Arlington man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last fall is once again pleading for his release 鈥� this time to attend his son鈥檚 funeral.
Maher Tarabishi has been in ICE custody since late October and remains at the Blubonnet Detention Facility in Anson, about 200 miles west of Dallas.
HIs son, 30-year-old Wael Tarabishi, died over the weekend after a month in the ICU at Mansfield Medical Center from complications related to Pompe disease, a rare genetic condition. He had been hospitalized in December for a stomach infection.
According to a news release sent to 四虎影院 from the Tarabishi family, Wael became unconscious after his second surgery.
鈥淗e passed without his beloved father, primary caregiver and constant life companion, Maher by his side,鈥� read a statement by Tarabishi family on social media.
Maher Tarabishi was detained after his annual check-in at the Dallas ICE Field office on Oct 28. He came to the U.S. from Jordan in1994.
His family is now asking for Maher鈥檚 humanitarian release so he can attend his son鈥檚 funeral.
Tarabishi鈥檚 daughter-in-law, Shahd Arnaout has asked via social media for a call to action for people to reach out to elected officials, to help Maher attend his son鈥檚 funeral.
鈥淚 feel like this is all on ICE, because if my father-in-law was next to him right now, none of that would happen,鈥� Arnaout told 四虎影院 last month.
A statement from the Tarabishi family on social media said they recently found out Maher鈥檚 asylum case had been denied because the attorney that filed his original asylum case had been fraudulently practicing law without a license.
It was uncovered during a thorough review of the case following the start of Tarabishi鈥檚 current ICE detention, read the statement. The family鈥檚 attorney Ali Elhorr filed a motion with the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen the case.
鈥淟ike the other victims of this fraudulent attorney, Maher鈥檚 immigration case was denied and he was ordered removed based on the asylum application that was filed on his behalf,鈥� the statement read.
In a statement last month, an ICE representative alleged Tarabishi was a 鈥渟elf-admitted member of the Palestine Liberation Organization,鈥� the internationally recognized representative of Palestinians.
The family has called ICE鈥檚 allegations 鈥渦ntrue, defamatory claims鈥� to keep Maher from his son during the last moments of his life.
Priscilla Rice is 四虎影院鈥檚 communities reporter. Got a tip? Email her at price@kera.org.
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider . Thank you.
