In a tragic case that underscores the human cost of immigration enforcement, a Texas father detained by ICE was unable to attend his disabled son’s funeral after the agency denied his request for temporary release. Maher Tarabishi, 62, has been in custody since October 2025, while his 30-year-old son Wael, who suffered from a rare muscle disorder, died on January 23 after a month-long hospitalization.
Wael Tarabishi battled Pompe disease, a genetic condition that causes severe muscle weakness and heart problems, requiring constant care. His father Maher was his sole caregiver, providing 24-hour assistance with daily needs such as bathing, feeding through a tube, and administering medication. The family has described Maher as essential to Wael’s survival, with the son once stating, “Without him, I cannot survive.”
Maher was detained during a routine immigration check-in at the ICE field office in Dallas on October 28, 2025. He had been living in the United States since 1994, arriving on a tourist visa, and was allowed to stay under supervision orders due to his role as Wael’s caregiver. Following his detention, the family publicly pleaded for his release on humanitarian grounds, hoping he could resume care for Wael or at least say goodbye.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials denied the family’s request for Maher to attend Wael’s funeral, which was held on January 29. According to ICE, Maher is considered a “criminal alien” and an “admitted member of a foreign terrorist organization,” specifically the Palestine Liberation Organization. The agency stated that he had been ordered removed years ago but remained in the country due to his caretaker status.
The Tarabishi family vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that Maher has no ties to terrorist organizations and has always complied with immigration requirements. They argue that his detention is unjust and that the claims are being used to justify keeping him in custody. Maher’s attorney has filed a motion to reopen his case, citing fraud in his original asylum application.
After Maher’s detention, Wael’s health deteriorated rapidly. He was hospitalized twice with life-threatening complications, including sepsis and a stomach infection from a displaced feeding tube. Family members believe that the separation took a severe mental toll on Wael, who felt unsafe without his father, accelerating his decline. In his final hours, Wael expressed a desire to see his father, but ICE denied a last-minute visit request.
This case highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement and humanitarian exceptions. ICE policies allow for escorted trips to visit critically ill family members or attend funerals, but in this instance, the agency chose not to grant such access. Advocates have criticized ICE’s decision as lacking compassion, while authorities maintain that national security concerns take precedence.
As Wael was laid to rest, his father remained in the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, unable to participate in the funeral. The family continues to fight for Maher’s release, hoping to reunite him with his remaining loved ones and seek justice for Wael. The incident has drawn attention to the plight of families torn apart by immigration policies, sparking calls for reform to consider vulnerable dependents.
