ICE Detention Leaves Father Unable to Attend Son’s Funeral (Full Transcript)

Wa’el Tarabishi died after battling Pompe disease as his detained father, Maher, was allegedly denied permission to attend the funeral, per family attorney.

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ICE detention kept father from his sons funeral

Added on 01/31/2026

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[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Hello, my name is Wa'el Tarabishi. My family has been taking my help.

[00:00:05] Speaker 2: This is 30-year-old Wa'el Tarabishi in a video published by his family about a month before he died on January 23rd in a Dallas-Fort Worth area hospital.

[00:00:16] Speaker 1: My father was my hero, my savior. He did everything for me, 24 hours a day.

[00:00:24] Speaker 2: Wa'el is talking about his father, Maher Tarabishi, his primary caretaker who has been in federal detention since October, separating him from his son as he battled severe health complications from a serious and rare inherited disorder called Pompe disease.

[00:00:40] Speaker 1: My dad was my best friend, my soulmate. He did everything for me.

[00:00:49] Speaker 2: Maher, who is originally from Jordan, was detained during a routine immigration check-in in Dallas. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to CNN, Maher has been allowed to remain in the U.S. illegally for nearly 20 years despite being ordered by an immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals to leave. The family's attorney says Maher was allowed to stay in the U.S. because he was his son's caretaker and was required to attend annual check-ins with ICE. CNN was unable to obtain documents about Maher's removal order or conditions outlining his stay in the U.S. While ICE's detention standards allow for, quote, emergency staff escorted trips into the community to visit critically ill members of the immediate family or to attend their funerals, the family's attorney says ICE still refused to allow Maher to attend his son's funeral, which took place on January 29th.

[00:01:45] Speaker 1: Please release him. I just want him. Please release him. I'm not asking for money.

[00:01:53] Speaker 2: CNN has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment about the decision.

Summary

A CNN report describes 30-year-old Wa'el Tarabishi, who suffered from Pompe disease and relied on his father, Maher Tarabishi, as his primary caretaker. Maher, originally from Jordan, was detained by ICE during a routine immigration check-in in Dallas in October, separating him from his son as Wa'el’s health deteriorated. Wa’el died on January 23 in a Dallas–Fort Worth hospital, and the family’s attorney says ICE refused to allow Maher to attend his son’s funeral on January 29 despite detention standards permitting escorted visits for critically ill immediate family members or funerals. DHS stated Maher had remained in the U.S. illegally for nearly 20 years despite a removal order; the attorney argues he was allowed to stay because of caretaker responsibilities and required annual check-ins. CNN sought additional DHS comment on the decision.

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Title

Detained Father Barred From Son’s Funeral After Illness Death

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Keywords

Wa'el Tarabishi Remove

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Maher Tarabishi Remove

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Pompe disease Remove

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ICE detention Remove

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DHS

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immigration check-in Remove

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removal order Remove

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caretaker

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funeral attendance Remove

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Dallas-Fort Worth Remove

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CNN report Remove

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Key Takeaways

Wa’el Tarabishi, who had Pompe disease, died on January 23 after severe complications.
His father and primary caretaker, Maher Tarabishi, was detained by ICE in October during a routine check-in.
DHS says Maher had an outstanding removal order and had been in the U.S. illegally for nearly 20 years; the family’s attorney disputes the context, citing caretaker-based allowances and required check-ins.
The attorney says ICE refused to let Maher attend Wa’el’s funeral on January 29 despite standards allowing escorted visits for critically ill immediate family or funerals.
CNN requested further comment from DHS regarding the decision.

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Sentiments

Negative: The tone is mournful and critical, centered on a family separation during severe illness, a death in hospital, and an alleged refusal to permit funeral attendance, creating feelings of grief, injustice, and frustration.

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