On Friday, January 23rd, Wael Tarabishi, a 30-year-old Texas man with Pompe disease, died after his father and primary caregiver, Maher Tarabishi, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in October. Pompe disease is a rare chronic muscular condition that requires breathing support and daily care. After his father Maher Tarabishi was detained, following a routine immigration appointment in October, Wael's health rapidly declined and led to his death in the hospital this month.
According to the Tarabishi family, Wael died because authorities separated the father and son. "I blame ICE. Maybe they did not kill Wael with a bullet, but they killed him when they took his father away," said Shahd Arnaout, Maher's daughter-in-law.
