UW lab technician detained by ICE in Tacoma

Name: UW lab technician detained by ICE in Tacoma
Uploaded: 2025-03-24T21:56:39-07:00
Description: A Pierce County woman who immigrated to the United States more than 50 years ago has spent nearly a month at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

UW lab technician detained by ICE in Tacoma

A Pierce County woman who immigrated to the United States more than 50 years ago has spent nearly a month at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

TACOMA, Wash. - A Pierce County woman who immigrated to the United States more than 50 years ago has spent nearly a month at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

Lewelyn Dixon, 64, is a lawful permanent resident of the United States and her family says she was returning from a trip to the Philippines when she was taken aside by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Seatac Airport on Feb. 28.

"We were never provided any information as to why she was there," said Lani Madriaga, Dixon's niece.

Madriaga says her sister was traveling with Dixon at the time of her detainment and waited for hours after she was taken by CBP.

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Dixon's family says they didn't know what happened to Dixon until they received a phone call from ICE in Tacoma.

"She's been here over 50 plus years. You would think that being a permanent resident is protected," said Madriaga.

After speaking with multiple lawyers, Madriaga says an immigration attorney told them Dixon had an embezzlement conviction in 2001.

Madriaga doesn't believe her aunt has had any other issues and has entered the healthcare field where she's been a lab technician for the University of Washington since 2015.

"I don't think her job will be protected, which was our biggest worry," said Madriaga.

Madriaga says Dixon had a hearing on March 11, but won't have a court date until July.