Wael Tarabishi, a US citizen battling Pompe disease, has faced a severe health crisis following the detention of his father and primary caregiver, Maher Tarabishi, by immigration authorities in Dallas last month. Wael was hospitalized with blood sepsis and pneumonia, spending days in intensive care while calling out for his father. His condition is described as the most fragile it has ever been.
Maher Tarabishi, a Jordanian citizen, has been Wael’s sole caregiver since his diagnosis at age four. He was detained during a routine check-in at the Dallas immigration office on October 28, despite having a lawful status under a Supervision Order issued in 2008 due to Wael’s medical needs. Pompe disease is a rare, progressive condition causing severe muscle deterioration, requiring constant care.
Relatives claim immigration officers ignored Maher’s legal status and documentation of Wael’s condition, handcuffing him when he tried to explain his role as a caregiver. Maher was held in a crowded room with 30 others, forced to sleep on the floor without a blanket, and denied a change of clothes until his transfer to the Bluebonnet Detention Center.
Immigration authorities have provided no updates on Maher’s legal status or his longstanding permission to remain in the US as Wael’s caregiver. An ICE spokesperson labeled Maher a criminal and a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a claim his family denies, emphasizing his clean record and dedication to his son.
Wael, who has undergone 36 surgeries and relies on medical machines to breathe and eat, expressed his despair, stating, ‘He is the only reason I want to continue living.’ The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover essential expenses now that Maher is unable to provide care.