The tragic death of a disabled man following the detention of his sole caregiver father by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has highlighted profound concerns about immigration enforcement's human impact. Wael Tarabishi, a 30-year-old man living with a rare genetic condition, passed away in late January, mere weeks after his father and primary caregiver was taken into custody.
A Life of Dedicated Care Interrupted
Wael Tarabishi suffered from Pompe disease, a progressive neuromuscular disorder that causes severe muscle weakness and typically leads to fatal respiratory complications without constant medical management. His father, Maher Tarabishi, had dedicated nearly two decades to providing round-the-clock care for his son after the diagnosis was confirmed in 2006.
Maher, who originally arrived in the United States from Jordan in 1994, had been permitted to remain in the country specifically to care for his medically vulnerable son. He maintained regular annual check-ins with immigration authorities throughout this period, never missing a single appointment according to his legal representative.
The Fateful Check-In That Changed Everything
On October 28, 2025, during what should have been a routine annual meeting at the Dallas ICE Field Office, Maher Tarabishi was unexpectedly detained. Despite arriving with comprehensive documentation detailing his son's critical medical needs, he was transferred to the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, approximately 200 miles from his family home.
His daughter-in-law, Shahd Arnaout, revealed that Maher had prepared meticulously for the appointment, bringing a folder filled with medical evidence demonstrating Wael's complete dependence on his care. "They may not kill Wael with a bullet," she stated emotionally, "but they killed him inside by taking the only person he asked for. Maher was his caregiver, his father, his best friend, his everything."
Rapid Health Decline Following Separation
Within weeks of his father's detention, Wael's health deteriorated dramatically. Family members attribute this decline directly to the extreme psychological and physical stress caused by the sudden absence of his primary caregiver. A GoFundMe page established for the family explained: "Wael's body could no longer handle the stress. We have said before that Maher's daily presence in Wael's life was not optional; rather, it was essential to his survival and well-being."
Medical complications began mounting in November when Wael was hospitalized with a high fever, eventually diagnosed with sepsis and bilateral pneumonia. Although he returned home briefly, further complications arose in December when his feeding tube became dislodged. Following surgical intervention to address this issue, Wael never regained consciousness.
Passing Without His Lifeline
Wael Tarabishi died on January 23, 2026, from complications related to Pompe disease. In a heartbreaking social media statement, the family noted: "He passed without his beloved father, primary caregiver and constant life companion, Maher, by his side." The separation proved fatal for a man whose survival depended entirely on consistent, specialized care.
Legal Complexities and Family's Plea
Maher Tarabishi's attorney, Ali Elhorr, explained that while his client originally entered the U.S. lawfully with a visa, an asylum application filed in 2006 was denied, resulting in a deportation order. However, due to Wael's medical diagnosis that same year, Maher was permitted to remain as his caregiver.
During a review of Maher's case following his detention, the family discovered that the attorney who filed his original asylum application had been practicing law fraudulently without a license. "Like the other victims of this fraudulent attorney," a family statement reads, "Maher's immigration case was denied, and he was ordered removed based on the asylum application that was filed on his behalf."
Mr. Elhorr has now filed a motion with the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals seeking to reopen the case based on this new information.
Contested Allegations and Humanitarian Request
ICE representatives have claimed that Maher Tarabishi was a "self-admitted member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation," but his family has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them "untrue, defamatory claims." The family's immediate concern is securing Maher's temporary release to attend his son's funeral, scheduled for January 29.
"Maher dedicated his life to caring for Wael," the family emphasized in their statement. "Now he just wants to say goodbye properly."
Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement
This tragedy occurs amid heightened scrutiny of ICE operations across the United States. Recent incidents, including fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, have intensified national debates about immigration enforcement methods and their consequences for communities.
The Tarabishi case illustrates how immigration policies intersect with disability rights and family unity, raising urgent questions about humanitarian considerations within enforcement procedures. As the family mourns their devastating loss, they continue advocating for Maher's release while highlighting the human cost of policies that separate vulnerable individuals from their essential caregivers.
