Disabled Man Dies Weeks After His Primary Caregiver Father Is Detained By ICE
The family believes the trauma of his detention contributed directly to the rapid decline that followed, arguing the emotional shock was as damaging as any medical factor.
In late October 2025, Maher Tarabashi was detained during what had long been a routine check-in at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, according to relatives and his lawyer. For years, these visits were procedural and always completed as required under his supervised status.
At the time, the 62-year-old was the sole caregiver for his son, Wael Tarabashi, who suffered from advanced Pompe disease. Wael depended entirely on his father for breathing assistance, nutrition, mobility, and constant care.
After Maher’s detention, Wael’s condition worsened quickly. He was hospitalized repeatedly, spending his final weeks in intensive care before dying on January 23. His family believes the sudden separation from his father caused overwhelming stress on an already fragile body.
Maher remains held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center, and officials denied his request to attend his son’s funeral. As legal proceedings continue, relatives have turned to fundraising to cover expenses and daily necessities.
Maher entered the U.S. from Jordan in 1994. Although his asylum claim was denied in 2006 and a deportation order issued, he was reportedly allowed to stay under supervision because Wael, a U.S. citizen, relied completely on him.
The family says this tragedy reflects more than illness alone. They describe a collision of physical vulnerability and emotional loss, raising broader questions about enforcement, compassion, and the human consequences when care is abruptly disrupted.
