Man Detained by ICE Denied Release for Sons Funeral

Detention Facility Custody Leads to Son’s Death in US

Maher Tarabishi, a 62-year-old Jordanian national, is currently being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of his supervision order. His son, Wael, who had been suffering from Pompe disease, passed away last Friday while Maher was not present due to his detention.

Wael’s family claims that ICE is responsible for his death, citing the prolonged separation between Maher and his son. The father had been caring for his son with a rare genetic condition that required round-the-clock care and numerous surgeries. However, in October 2025, during Maher’s last check-in with ICE, he was taken into detention as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Maher’s family has repeatedly requested temporary release to attend Wael’s funeral, but their requests have been denied. According to his sister-in-law, Shahd Arnaout, Wael had expressed a desire to see his father before passing away, and the family believes that this wish was not fulfilled due to Maher’s detention.

The circumstances surrounding Wael’s death are being investigated by his family lawyer, Ali Elhorr. In an effort to secure Maher’s release for the funeral, Elhorr made multiple appeals to ICE officials, but ultimately received a virtual visitation arrangement instead of a supervised release.

Wael’s funeral is scheduled to take place on Thursday at a mosque in Arlington, Texas. Maher will not be able to attend due to his detention status.

Source: Al Jazeera