Maher Tarabishi’s family had desperately hoped he could be with his son, Wael, during his final moments.
Maher, who had been his son’s primary caretaker for years, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since October, leaving him separated from Wael as he battled serious health complications stemming from Pompe disease, a rare inherited disorder that causes severe muscle weakness and heart issues.
Despite the family’s emotional pleas for Maher’s temporary release, ICE denied the request, leading to a devastating reality that the family is now preparing to bury Wael without his father by his side.
ICE Denies Father’s Request to Say Goodbye
The family’s attorney, Ali Elhorr, expressed their profound disappointment in a statement on Tuesday, calling ICE’s decision “a tragic lack of humanity,” per CNN.
He continued: “Today’s decision to keep him from saying goodbye is a reflection of the tragic lack of humanity by those in charge.”
The family also stated in a separate message that preventing Maher from attending the funeral would only add to the immense emotional toll they have endured in recent months.
Wael, who had battled Pompe disease throughout his life, passed away at the age of 30 on January 23, after his health deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks.
His family had hoped that Maher, who had always been the one to provide essential care, could be temporarily released to say his goodbyes in person. Unfortunately, ICE did not approve the request, even after a discussion about logistics on the eve of Wael’s planned funeral.
Wael’s Health Declined Without His Father’s Care
Shahd Arnaout, Wael’s sister-in-law, shared the family’s struggle to care for Wael during Maher’s detention.
According to Arnaout, Maher was the one who provided constant care for his son, including bathing him, changing his clothing, and administering food and medication. She recalled how Maher would act quickly when Wael’s fever spiked, something the family struggled to manage without him.
Arnaout shared an emotional memory from Wael himself, as he described the bond between father and son.
In a statement read aloud during a December news conference, Wael expressed: “He’s the one who keeps me alive when I’m at my weakest. Without him, I am nothing. Without him, I cannot survive.”
Following Maher’s detention, Wael’s health took a turn for the worse. He was hospitalized twice, once in November for sepsis and pneumonia, and again in December due to a stomach infection caused by a displaced feeding tube.
Wael spent nearly a month in the ICU at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Dallas before passing away on January 23.
Wael’s Last Wish: To See His Father
In the final hours of Wael’s life, he expressed a heartfelt wish to see his father.
On the day Wael passed away, the family’s attorney, Elhorr, met with an ICE official to request that Maher be allowed to visit his son in the hospital.
Tragically, the request was denied, leaving the family in disbelief. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), did not provide any further information about why the request for Maher’s release was denied, nor did she confirm if the family had submitted multiple requests.
“This is unbelievable,” Arnaout said. “Our lives have been turned upside down.”