San Francisco: Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old Filipino green card holder, who was detained upon her arrival in the United States in February, has been released. An immigration judge ordered her release from the Tacoma Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Center, as stated by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dixon, who immigrated to the US from the Philippines five decades ago, was taken into custody by Customs Border Patrol on February 28 after returning from the Philippines. Her detention occurred amid an intensification of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco was present during Dixon’s case hearing in Tacoma, Washington on May 29. Their presence aimed to provide appropriate assistance and ensure that Dixon’s rights were respected. The Consulate reaffirmed its commitment to assisting all Filipino nationals within its jurisdiction, in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and other international agreements, while respecting the host government’s laws and regulations.

Following the hearing, Consulate representatives were able to meet with Dixon privately and provided her with welfare assistance approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs.