ICE Detention Denies Father Final Goodbye to Son with Pompe Disease
Maher Tarabishi had been the primary caregiver for his son, Wael, who was diagnosed with Pompe disease as a child. This progressive muscle disorder required constant attention and specialised care, which Maher provided diligently for years. The bond between father and son was not just emotional but essential for Wael's survival, as his condition necessitated round-the-clock support.
The Inseparable Bond Shattered by Detention
Until three months ago, Wael Tarabishi and his father, Maher, were inseparable. This closeness was a necessity; beyond being best friends, Maher served as caretaker for 30-year-old Wael, who had lived with Pompe disease since childhood. Wael's mother described Maher in November as his son's "case manager, his equipment company, his doctor, his everything."
In late October, this crucial caregiving relationship was abruptly severed when Maher was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents following a routine visit to a Dallas field office. This was the same visit the Jordan-born Maher had made for years, permitted to remain in the United States specifically because he was his son's primary caretaker.
Rapid Deterioration and Pleas for Compassion
Without his father's care, Wael's condition deteriorated rapidly. He faced repeated hospitalisations and underwent multiple surgeries while the family desperately pleaded with federal authorities to release Maher or at least grant him communication privileges with his son. Every request was either ignored or formally denied, leaving the family in anguish.
On 23 January, Wael died in hospital. The tragedy was compounded when ICE subsequently denied Maher permission to attend his son's funeral, despite urgent requests from the family and their attorney, Ali Elhorr.
A Family's Accusation and Unanswered Questions
"ICE is responsible for the death of Wael Tarabishi," stated Shahd Arnaout, Maher's daughter-in-law. "They may not have killed him with a bullet, but they killed him inside. They killed him mentally. How many people need to die until this stops?"
Maher originally came to the United States in 1994 on a tourist visa and later sought asylum. Although his asylum claim was denied in 2006, he was allowed to remain under supervised release. His detention places him among the majority of ICE detainees who have no criminal record.
Broken Promises and Final Denials
The Tarabishi family has been unable to contact Maher directly; they must wait for his calls from a detention centre approximately three hours from their home. When he called and learned about his son's death, he initially refused to believe it.
"No, no, this is not happening," he said over the phone. "Wael promised me that he will wait for me. Wael promised me that he's going to see me one last time."
Arnaout had made similar promises to Wael. "I promised Wael a lot that you're not going to die without seeing your father," she said, her voice breaking. "That's a promise from me, but it didn't happen."
Contradictory Communications and Allegations
After Wael's death, attorney Ali Elhorr urgently requested that ICE allow Maher to attend the funeral under supervision. Elhorr shared text messages and voicemail transcripts indicating that arrangements were being discussed among officers, giving the family hope.
"There were preliminary steps already being taken," Elhorr explained, including moving Maher to a detention centre closer to home for funeral attendance. "Management was talking, discussing the request."
Then a final decision came "from higher up": Maher would not be permitted to attend. When questioned about this decision, an ICE spokesperson claimed an official request had not been made, despite documentation showing discussions as early as Monday morning.
Unsubstantiated Claims and Legal Complications
ICE has repeatedly asserted that Maher is a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which the United States once designated as a terrorist organisation. "This PLO claim really has come out of nowhere for us," said Elhorr. "Maher was not part of the PLO."
Elhorr suggested the allegation might trace back to Maher's original immigration filings, prepared decades ago by someone later found to have been fraudulently practicing law. "It's been proven in a court of law that this individual was practicing law without a license," Elhorr noted.
Personal Toll and Broader Implications
In recent weeks, Elhorr has handled communications with ICE on the family's behalf. He recalled one conversation where an agent expressed remorse about the situation's handling, stating that while he believed Maher deserved deportation for alleged terrorist ties, his family didn't deserve to suffer.
Arnaout emphasised that Maher's detention and ICE's refusal to release him, even temporarily, has been deeply traumatic. Her husband quit his job to remain at Wael's hospital bedside, sleeping there nearly a week, while Arnaout left a second job to transport Wael's mother to and from the hospital.
"We have each other here," she said. "But he's alone there." As she prepares to attend Wael's funeral without Maher, Arnaout hopes people will recognise what ICE is doing to families like hers. "People need to open their eyes and look around," she urged. "This is the reality that we live in."
