Overview
- Maher Tarabishi remains held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center after ICE rejected a temporary humanitarian release requested so he could attend his son’s Thursday funeral in Texas, his attorney says.
- Tarabishi’s attorney filed a motion on January 23 to reopen his immigration case, citing evidence that the person who filed his original asylum application allegedly practiced law without a license.
- ICE detention standards state that escorted community trips may be allowed for detainees to attend funerals, yet officials declined Tarabishi’s request; ICE separately told a local outlet it had not received a formal request.
- DHS and ICE have described Tarabishi as a self-admitted member of the PLO and a criminal alien, claims his family disputes; the PLO is not on the current U.S. list of designated foreign terrorist organizations.
- Tarabishi was detained during an October 28 check-in after years of supervision tied to caring for his son Wael, 30, who died January 23 from complications of Pompe disease, with relatives saying the separation worsened his health.