SEND 2 EMAILS TO DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MAHER TARABISHI FOR HIS SON'S FUNERAL
Please send TWO emails on behalf of the Tarabishi family, advocating for Maher Tarabishi’s immediate release:
- State and Congressional Representatives
- ICE Field Office
** Fill out the form, but please note that your address will NOT be used. It is only to make sure you send it to your right representative!
Background:
At around 1:55 p.m. on January 23, 2026, Wael Tarabishi, the son of Maher Tarabishi, was pronounced dead in the ICU at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. Wael fought a long and difficult battle against Pompe Disease during his 30 years of life. Today, he passed without his beloved father, primary caretaker and constant life companion, Maher, by his side. Now, Wael’s family calls on ICE - and all other agencies and officials with applicable power - to release Maher Tarabishi so that he may attend his son’s funeral.
Since October 28, 2025, the day Maher was abducted by ICE during a routine annual immigration check-in, the Tarabishi family warned that, without Maher, Wael’s health would deteriorate and his life would be put at risk. They made clear that Maher was always the closest person to his son, as well as the only person—amongst family members and medical professionals alike—who was truly equipped to care for Wael due to his deep and intuitive understanding of his son’s condition and medical needs. Today, it was confirmed that the family’s fears were based in reality. Since Maher’s detainment, Wael had been rushed to the ICU and hospitalized twice, with his second hospitalization lasting 30 days and leading to his passing today. Up until Wael’s last conscious moment, he continued thinking and talking about his father.
Earlier today, Maher’s attorney, Ali Elhorr, filed a Motion to Reopen Maher Tarabishi’s case with the Board of Immigration Appeals based on the recent finding that the “attorney” who filed Maher’s original asylum application was fraudulently practicing law without a license. This was uncovered during a thorough review of Maher’s case following the start of his current ICE detention. Hours before Wael’s passing, Mr. Elhorr also drove to Alvarado, Texas to meet with an ICE official and ask for Maher’s release to be with his son, but this request was not granted and Wael passed without his father. ICE’s detention of Maher during the last months of Wael’s life is a tragedy that Wael’s loved ones will live with forever. Not allowing Maher to bury his son and say his final goodbye would only deepen the wounds left by the pain of these past few months.
Maher and his family have lived in Texas for over 30 years, building a life and a home where their disabled son had access to the critical medical care that he needed. It would be beyond inhumane and grotesque for ICE to prevent Maher from attending his son’s funeral after the unspeakable pain and hardship his abduction has brought upon his family. In the months since abducting Maher, ICE has made various untrue, defamatory claims about him to justify keeping this father away from his son during his last months of life. This was done to Maher for the “crime” of being an immigrant who lived a life of peace, honesty and sacrifice in this country, while complying with immigration authorities in good faith and without fail.
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.Letter Campaign by
