Latest news with #Dixon
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
Consular assistance extended to Filipina green card holder released from detention
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Saturday welcomed the decision by a United States court to release green card holder Lewelyn Dixon from detention. "The Embassy welcomes the decision by a United States court to grant Ms. Lewelyn Dixon's petition for cancellation of removal and to order her release. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco provided appropriate consular assistance and ensured that her rights were protected throughout the hearing process," it said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco said its representatives were present during Dixon's hearing in Tacoma, Washington, on May 29. "The Consulate welcomes the court's decision granting her petition for cancellation of removal and ordering her release and joins the family and friends of Ms. Dixon in celebrating the favorable outcome of this case. After the hearing, the Consulate's representatives were able to speak with Ms. Dixon in private and handed over to her the welfare assistance approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs," it said. The embassy said it remains steadfast in providing consular assistance to all Filipinos regardless of their immigration status while honoring the right of the US to enforce its own domestic laws, including those on immigration. The 64-year-old Filipina was arrested back in February by the US Customs and Border Protection at the Seattle International Airport upon returning from a vacation in the Philippines after her record showed a conviction for embezzlement in 2001. The immigration judge's decision said that the two-decade-old conviction could not be used as a basis for deportation to the Philippines. Dixon worked as a lab technician at the University of Washington Medical Center for nearly a decade after moving from Hawaii, where she finished high school. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
It was hell: Filipino mom released from ICE detention
Lewelyn Dixon was released on May 29. - kuow/Instagram via PDI/ANN NEW YORK: Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old Filipino green card holder who was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while returning home to Seattle, Washington, from a trip to the Philippines earlier this year, has been released. Dixon was released after an immigration hearing May 29 at the Northwest ICE Processing Centre in Tacoma. 'I'm feeling relief, elated, happy,' the Filipino mother said immediately after the hearing, breaking into tears. 'It was hell,' she added, describing the three months she spent in detention, according to the Seattle Times. Migrant rights advocates said Dixon's ordeal highlights the ongoing challenges faced by many Filipino immigrants under the Trump administration's immigration policies. Dixon has been a lawful permanent resident for five decades. She first arrived in the US from the Philippines at age 14. During the hearing, Dixon disclosed that in 2001, she was convicted of embezzling approximately US$6,500 from Washington Mutual Bank. At the time, she worked as a vault teller, responsible for distributing cash to other tellers and withdrawing money from the vault multiple times. Then in 2011, she was convicted of theft. Dixon explained that she had forgotten about a few items she left in her purse while shopping at Walmart. She intended to return and pay for approximately US$27 worth of items but was detained before doing so. Immigration officials said those past convictions were the primary reasons for her arrest and detention. Dixon emphasised that she had resolved her legal issues. She served no jail time but was ordered to repay the stolen money and spent 30 days at a residential reentry facility. For her 2011 theft conviction, she agreed to do community service, and the charge was dismissed. 'I think it was temptation that led me to it,' Dixon told the court. 'There was just so much money I had never seen before.' Despite her legal troubles, Dixon traveled regularly between the Philippines and the US without issue until her recent detention. When asked why she never pursued citizenship, Dixon explained she made a promise to her father to maintain property in the Philippines for the family. Her family was unaware of her past convictions and was reluctant to discuss her detention. Dixon revealed her history only during the hearing, prompted by her lawyer Benjamin Osorio. Judge Tammy Fitting granted Dixon relief under provisions available to lawful permanent residents who have held their status for at least five years and have no serious criminal record, known as aggravated felonies. In her ruling, Judge Fitting emphasised Dixon's decades of lawful residency, work history, tax payments, family ties in the US and multiple letters of support. Additionally, a government attorney waived the right to appeal. Her past convictions qualify as crimes of moral turpitude under immigration law, and two such crimes can jeopardise a green card holder's status if they remain in the US. However, different rules apply when returning from abroad. In those cases, even one crime of moral turpitude can render a person inadmissible. While in detention, Dixon received frequent visits from family and supporters, including members of the Tanggol Migrante Network Washington, an organisation advocating for Filipino migrants and families. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
ICE releases health worker arrested at airport despite living in the U.S. legally for 50 years
After three months in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, a Filipino green-card holder who had been arrested at Seattle-Tacoma Airport has finally gone home. Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old University of Washington lab technician, was released on Thursday from the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, after a judge ruled that she does not qualify for deportation. Dixon, who's had legal permanent status in the U.S. for 50 years, had been in ICE custody since late February, when she was detained after coming back from a visit to the Philippines. Outside the detention facility, Dixon thanked a crowd of supporters and spoke about her experience and the conditions in the facility. 'It was horrific; it was awful, it is crowded -- super crowded, they release maybe nine, bring back seven, release one, they bring three,' she said, according to local NBC affiliate King5. Dixon's niece Lani Madriaga told NBC News that in the hours since her release, she's been spending time with loved ones. 'Last night, we had dinner together as a family and just chatted,' Madriaga said on Friday. 'She's just getting readjusted.' Benjamin Osorio, Dixon's attorney, previously told NBC News that a decades-old embezzlement conviction likely caught the attention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport, triggering her detention. Dixon had been a vault teller and operations supervisor at Washington Mutual Bank at the time and 'removed cash from the vault on eight separate occasions' without the bank's authorization, according to her plea agreement. She removed a total of $6,460. While Dixon pleaded guilty to the nonviolent offense in 2000, she was ordered to pay restitution and spend 30 days in a halfway house, court documents show. By 2019, she completed her payments. Dixon has been in the U.S. since she was a teenager and has long been eligible for citizenship, but she promised her father that she would maintain her Filipino nationality so that she could retain property in her native country. However, Osorio said, Dixon likely did not understand the risk involved with staying on a green card. Madriaga said the ordeal has been emotional for her aunt, but it's also given her a renewed purpose in helping detainees. During her time in ICE custody, Dixon attempted to help others navigate the immigration and court system, Madriaga said. Dixon plans on staying in touch with the detainees at the Tacoma facility, with whom she said she grew close. 'I don't think it's going to stop her from helping others, even though she's been out,' the niece said. The case has been shocking for her family, particularly because Dixon had kept her conviction a secret from them. 'We don't think her any different after we found out about her conviction,' Madriaga said. 'She turned it all around and … she really worked hard and really focused on health care, where it's really about helping the community.' In fact, Madriaga said, Dixon plans to head back to work soon. In the meantime, Dixon's first priority is obtaining her citizenship. Dixon is among several other green-card holders who have been detained amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. Earlier this month, Maximo Londonio, 42, was also detained at an airport in Seattle after coming back from vacation with his family. Londonio, a green-card holder, was likely detained due to previous nonviolent convictions, his family members believe. Another legal permanent resident, Fabian Schmidt, was detained in March after being arrested at the Boston Logan International Airport. The German national, who had a previous misdemeanor marijuana conviction, was released in May, after he filed a motion to terminate the immigration proceedings. This article was originally published on
NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
ICE releases health worker arrested at airport despite living in the U.S. legally for 50 years
After three months in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, a Filipino green-card holder who had been arrested at Seattle-Tacoma Airport has finally gone home. Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old University of Washington lab technician, was released on Thursday from the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, after a judge ruled that she does not qualify for deportation. Dixon, who's had legal permanent status in the U.S. for 50 years, had been in ICE custody since late February, when she was detained after coming back from a visit to the Philippines. Outside the detention facility, Dixon thanked a crowd of supporters and spoke about her experience and the conditions in the facility. 'It was horrific; it was awful, it is crowded -- super crowded, they release maybe nine, bring back seven, release one, they bring three,' she said, according to local NBC affiliate King5. Dixon's niece Lani Madriaga told NBC News that in the hours since her release, she's been spending time with loved ones. 'Last night, we had dinner together as a family and just chatted,' Madriaga said on Friday. 'She's just getting readjusted.' Benjamin Osorio, Dixon's attorney, previously told NBC News that a decades-old embezzlement conviction likely caught the attention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport, triggering her detention. Dixon had been a vault teller and operations supervisor at Washington Mutual Bank at the time and 'removed cash from the vault on eight separate occasions' without the bank's authorization, according to her plea agreement. She removed a total of $6,460. While Dixon pleaded guilty to the nonviolent offense in 2000, she was ordered to pay restitution and spend 30 days in a halfway house, court documents show. By 2019, she completed her payments. Dixon has been in the U.S. since she was a teenager and has long been eligible for citizenship, but she promised her father that she would maintain her Filipino nationality so that she could retain property in her native country. However, Osorio said, Dixon likely did not understand the risk involved with staying on a green card. Madriaga said the ordeal has been emotional for her aunt, but it's also given her a renewed purpose in helping detainees. During her time in ICE custody, Dixon attempted to help others navigate the immigration and court system, Madriaga said. Dixon plans on staying in touch with the detainees at the Tacoma facility, with whom she said she grew close. 'I don't think it's going to stop her from helping others, even though she's been out,' the niece said. The case has been shocking for her family, particularly because Dixon had kept her conviction a secret from them. 'We don't think her any different after we found out about her conviction,' Madriaga said. 'She turned it all around and … she really worked hard and really focused on health care, where it's really about helping the community.' In fact, Madriaga said, Dixon plans to head back to work soon. In the meantime, Dixon's first priority is obtaining her citizenship. Dixon is among several other green-card holders who have been detained amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. Earlier this month, Maximo Londonio, 42, was also detained at an airport in Seattle after coming back from vacation with his family. Londonio, a green-card holder, was likely detained due to previous nonviolent convictions, his family members believe. Another legal permanent resident, Fabian Schmidt, was detained in March after being arrested at the Boston Logan International Airport. The German national, who had a previous misdemeanor marijuana conviction, was released in May, after he filed a motion to terminate the immigration proceedings.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
UW lab tech, Green Card holder released from ICE detention in Tacoma, WA
The Brief Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old lawful permanent resident and University of Washington lab technician, was released from an ICE detention center following a judge's ruling. Dixon was detained due to a 2001 embezzlement conviction, attorneys say. Her family, along with protesters and labor union members, have been demonstrating for her release since her arrest. TACOMA, Wash. - A University of Washington lab technician held at an ICE detention center in Tacoma was released and reunited with her family on Thursday. Lewelyn Dixon, 64, is a lawful permanent resident, a Green Card holder, of the United States who lives in Pierce County, and has resided in the country for more than 50 years. Her family says she was returning from a trip to the Philippines when she was taken aside by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Feb. 28. The reason for her detainment stemmed from an embezzlement conviction in 2001. Family members, protesters and labor union members have demonstrated outside the detention facility since Dixon's arrest. What we know During a demonstration on Thursday, Dixon's family members came out of court and told supporters that a judge ruled to release her. "The biggest thing to realize is she should have never been there in the first place," said Emily Cristobal, Aunty Lynn's niece. "This is what community looks like, and without all of you, we wouldn't be here." Dixon was expected to be released Thursday or Friday, but walked out of the detention center after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Dixon hugged her family and was welcomed by cheers of supporters who had gathered at the facility to support her. The Source Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter AJ Janavel. Ex-Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz files lawsuit, claims wrongful termination Crews battle Second Creek Fire near Leavenworth, WA 2 injured in separate Seattle shootings Teen, child killed in Lacey, WA mobile home fire Crews investigate explosion at Woodinville, WA hardware store College Inn Pub announces closure after 50 years in Seattle Dave's Hot Chicken to open 4 new locations in Seattle area. Here's where To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
