Khaberni - Maher Tarabishi has been detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement since October 2025.
He was not allowed to attend the funeral of his son Wael Tarabishi, who was 30 years old and suffered from complications due to a rare and serious genetic disorder.
Maher, who is of Jordanian origin, was detained during routine immigration inspection procedures in Dallas. While the Department of Homeland Security stated that Maher had been allowed to stay in the United States illegally for nearly 20 years, despite a judge's order from the immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals for his departure.
The family's attorney states that Maher had been allowed to stay in the United States because he was caring for his son and was required to attend annual inspection sessions with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
While the detention standards of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allow for "emergency personnel accompaniment to the community for close family members suffering from serious illnesses or to attend their funerals", the family's attorney commented on this by saying: "However, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied Maher permission to attend the funeral of his son which took place on January 29".
