ICE releases green-card holder who lived in US legally for 50 years

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on Thursday released an immigrant woman who has been in the United States legally for over 50 years, after she was detained by the authorities for months.

An immigration judge in Washington state ruled that 64-year-old Lewelyn Dixon, who has been working as a University of Washington lab technician, does not qualify for deportation because she legally possessed a green card.

Dixon had been detained by ICE since February after coming back from a visit to the Philippines, according to NBC News.

“It was horrific; it was awful, it is crowded -- super crowded, they release maybe nine, bring back seven, release one, they bring three,” Dixon told supporters after her release. 

Dixon's attorney said his client previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement in 2000, which was likely what tipped ICE off. But she has since repaid the $6,000 she owed a bank and served her sentence.

The migrant is eligible to become a legal U.S. citizen and now plans to do so, according to her family. She previously declined to become a citizen because she promised to maintain her Filipino nationality so that she could have property in the Philippines. 

Other legal immigrants have also been detained by ICE amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, including 42-year-old Maximo Londonio, who was arrested coming back from vacation, and German national Fabian Schmidt. Both men have been convicted of a nonviolent offense.

Schmidt has since been released after he petitioned the government to drop its case. He was only convicted of a misdemeanor Marijuana charge. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.