A 64-year-old Filipino green card holder who has lived in the US for 50 years has been detained by ICE. According to the report, Lewelyn Dixon was returning to Seattle from a family outing in the Philippines when he was stopped by customs officers at the airport.
His niece, Emily Cristobal, said he only stayed there for a few weeks and returned on February 28, but he remained at customs. There is no clear explanation yet for why he is being held; the family said they are still waiting for documents.
Despite repeated renewals of his green card, including the most recent renewal in 2022, the reason for his detention remains unclear. He has also reportedly undergone a background check for work in Washington, so the family is at a loss as to what the issue is.
The incident comes amid the Donald Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants, which has used outdated laws such as the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to detain or deport foreigners deemed a threat to the country.
