ICE detains Jordanian man in Dallas, leaving disabled son hospitalised

Wael Tarabishi, a US citizen living with Pompe disease, has seen his health deteriorate since immigration authorities detained his father and primary caregiver last month in Dallas.

Tarabishi was rushed to hospital with blood sepsis and pneumonia, his relatives said in press release on Thursday. They added that he spent days in the intensive care unit calling out for his father and described his condition as the most fragile it has ever been.

His father, Maher Tarabishi, who has been his primary caregiver since Wael was diagnosed at the age of four, was detained during a routine check-in at the Dallas immigration office on 28 October.

In 2008, the US government allowed Maher, a Jordanian citizen, to remain in the country under a Supervision Order issued on the basis of Wael’s medical needs. Pompe disease is a rare and progressive condition that causes severe muscle deterioration, leaving patients unable to move and requiring round-the-clock assistance.

Relatives said immigration officers ignored Maher’s lawful status and the documentation outlining his son’s medical needs when he arrived at the field office. Officers handcuffed him when he tried to explain his role as caregiver and ordered him to shut up whenever he attempted to ask questions.

'Inhumane' detention conditions

The family described Maher’s detention as “inhumane and traumatising”, saying the 62-year-old was held for several days in a crowded room with about 30 people and only one shared bathroom. He was forced to sleep on the floor without a blanket and remained in the same clothes until he was transferred to the Bluebonnet Detention Center.

Relatives added that immigration authorities have given no indication of any change to Maher’s legal status or his longstanding permission to remain in the United States as Wael’s caregiver.

In a statement to NBC, an ICE spokesperson labelled Maher a criminal and a member of a terrorist organisation, claiming he was affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the internationally recognised representative body of the Palestinian people.

The PLO has not been designated a terrorist group by the United States since 1987.

“Maher Mohd Tarabishi, 62, a criminal alien and self-admitted member of the Palestine Liberation Organization - a murderous foreign terrorist organization that has carried out countless terrorist attacks and plane hijackings - was arrested by ICE officers Oct. 28 in Dallas, Texas,” the statement read.

Maher’s relatives say the accusation is baseless and note that he has no criminal history, paid taxes, worked legally, and dedicated his life to caring for his son.

Wael has undergone 36 operations since being diagnosed with Pompe disease in early childhood. His muscles and bones have weakened so severely that he cannot leave his bed.

His cousin, Loui Tarabishi, told NBC Wael has 22 screws in his back, a collapsed lung, and can no longer move both his arms. He also relies on medical machines to breathe and eat.

Speaking about his father’s detention, Wael told the network, “He is the only reason I want to continue living.”

The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover in-home care, rent, medical bills, and other essential expenses now that Maher is no longer able to provide care.