ICE Detention Prevents Texas Father from Attending Funeral of Disabled Son

Any parent dreads the idea of having to bury their child. It’s not supposed to happen that way—parents expect their children to outlive them. Unfortunately, that will not be the case for Maher Tarabishi, according to CNN.

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Why Can't This Father And Son Reunite?

Maher is the father of a Texas man named Wael Tarabishi and has been his primary caretaker. Since October, Maher has been separated from his son after being federally detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Wael has severe health complications caused by a rare and serious inherited disorder.

Is This Cruel, or Is It Just The Law?

Maher and his family have repeatedly requested his temporary release, but ICE officials have denied those requests, according to his attorneys. Wael, who is 30 years old, suffers from Pompe disease—a condition that leads to severe muscle weakness and serious heart problems. The family is now preparing to bury him.
Attorney Ali Elhorr stated, “We are profoundly disappointed with ICE’s decision to deny a father the opportunity to say goodbye to his beloved son. This decision reflects a tragic lack of humanity by those in charge.”Family members also released a statement saying that denying Maher the chance to bury his son would only deepen the wounds caused by the pain of the past several months. This is a heartbreaking story of a father who only wants the chance to say a final goodbye to his son. Is this inhumane—or is it just the law?