SAN FRANCISCO—Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old Filipino green card holder detained in the United States earlier this year, has been released following a court order.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco said an immigration judge ordered her release from the Tacoma Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center after a hearing on May 29.
Dixon, who migrated to the US from the Philippines five decades ago, was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection on February 28 upon her return from a visit to the Philippines.
Consular officials were present during the hearing to provide legal and humanitarian assistance, affirming their commitment to protecting the rights of Filipino nationals within US jurisdiction.
They also handed over welfare aid approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and reiterated that all actions were in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and other international protocols.
Dixon’s detention sparked concern among migrant rights advocates, particularly as it coincided with a broader tightening of immigration enforcement under current US policies. The incident raised questions about the treatment of long-time legal residents at ports of entry.
