The University of Chicago

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  • The Paradox of Freedom in a Country That Wants to Keep Immigrants Locked Up

    The Paradox of Freedom in a Country That Wants to Keep Immigrants Locked Up

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    Melanie Minuche

    A routine visit to the immigration field office in Dallas, Texas, upended life for Mahir Tarabishi (62), who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in October 2025. Mahir’s detention proved fatal for his disabled son, Wael Taraishi, who died on January 23, 2026, in the absence of Mahir,…