Disabled Man Dies After Months of Calling for Father's ICE Release

Wael Tarabishi, 30, suffered from rare Pompe disease and his father Maher was his primary caretaker before being detained by ICE.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:55pm

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A 30-year-old disabled man in Arlington, Texas named Wael Tarabishi has died after a month-long hospitalization, with his family saying his health sharply declined after his father Maher was taken into ICE custody in October. Wael and his family had been pleading with ICE to release Maher on humanitarian grounds so he could care for his son, but that never happened. Wael's family is now calling on ICE to allow Maher to attend his son's funeral.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the human impact of immigration enforcement actions, especially when they separate families and leave vulnerable individuals without their primary caretakers. It raises questions about ICE's policies and whether they adequately consider humanitarian factors, particularly for those with serious medical conditions.

The details

Wael Tarabishi suffered from the rare Pompe disease for nearly his whole life, and his father Maher was his primary caretaker. In October, ICE agents took Maher into custody during a routine check-in. Since then, Wael's health sharply declined and he was hospitalized after his stomach started leaking and an infection spread through his body. Wael and his family had been pleading with ICE to release Maher on humanitarian grounds so he could care for his son, but that never happened. Tragically, Wael died after a month in the hospital, with his family saying he was thinking and talking about his father up until his last conscious moment.

  • In October, ICE agents took Maher Tarabishi into custody during a routine check-in.
  • Wael Tarabishi was hospitalized for a month before passing away.

The players

Wael Tarabishi

A 30-year-old disabled man in Arlington, Texas who suffered from the rare Pompe disease and whose father Maher was his primary caretaker.

Maher Tarabishi

The father of Wael Tarabishi, who was taken into ICE custody in October and whose family pleaded for his release on humanitarian grounds to care for his son.

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency that detained Maher Tarabishi and has faced criticism from the family for not releasing him to care for his son.

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What they’re saying

“Up until Wael's last conscious moment, he continued thinking and talking about his father.”

— Wael Tarabishi's Family (Press Release)

“We call on ICE to release Maher Tarabishi so that he may attend his beloved son's funeral. In Wael's own words, Maher was Wael's father, caretaker, his best friend, his everything. He must be allowed to say goodbye to his son. We call on every congressional representative that represents Texas to take action to the fullest extent of their capacity to ensure that Maher gets the opportunity to properly mourn his son and grieve with his family, as is his human right to do.”

— Wael Tarabishi's Family (Press Release)

What’s next

The family has called on ICE to allow Maher Tarabishi to attend his son Wael's funeral, but it is unclear if this request will be granted.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the human toll that can result when immigration enforcement actions separate families and leave vulnerable individuals without their primary caretakers, even in cases involving serious medical conditions. It raises questions about whether ICE's policies adequately consider humanitarian factors in such situations.