A Filipina immigrant who has lived in the United States for five decades has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking concern among her family and immigrant rights advocates.
Lewelyn Dixon, who moved from the Philippines to Hawaii 50 years ago, was taken into ICE custody upon her return to Seattle from a family trip to the Philippines on February 28, according to Hawaii News Now.
Her niece, Emily Cristobal, said Dixon was held up at customs and has been detained since then. “We haven’t officially been told why she’s being held. They just keep saying they’re waiting for documents,” Cristobal said.
Dixon, a Farrington High School alumna, works as a lab technician at the University of Washington and last renewed her green card in 2022.
Hawaii State Representative Tina Grandinetti, for whom Cristobal works, is pushing legislation to provide legal aid for immigrants in Hawaii. She highlighted that while the US Constitution guarantees legal counsel in criminal cases, immigration proceedings are civil in nature and often leave people without legal representation.
Legal experts say even green card holders can face deportation, typically for past convictions. However, Cristobal said her aunt has passed background checks required for state employment and has consistently renewed her green card, adding, “If there was something in her record, it would’ve come up.”
Dixon is expected to have her first immigration hearing in July. Her family insists her life is rooted in the US, particularly in Washington state.
Her case comes amid renewed immigration enforcement under US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The Philippine Embassy in the US has since activated 24/7 hotlines for Filipinos and reminded them of their rights, regardless of immigration status.
