A Cancer Diagnosis and an ICE Detention: Where America’s Humanity Fades Away

Loreto Javar, a 76-year-old Filipino man living in Tacoma, Washington, with permanent US residency and stage four prostate cancer, is facing a humanitarian crisis. At the center of this story is not his advanced cancer diagnosis but rather ICE’s decision to detain him despite his medical condition.

Javar has lived in the US for over 30 years, paying taxes, working, and contributing to society as a responsible resident. His permanent residency was renewed without issue multiple times before his recent citizenship application was submitted. According to Javar’s daughter, Daisy, her father had never been dishonest about his past and had followed all the rules.

However, ICE claims that Javar is ineligible to remain in the US because of an alleged altercation in the Philippines decades ago, which left one person dead. This crime was not disclosed at the time of his initial visa application in 1995. The question remains: did Javar indeed withhold information or was he unaware of its significance given the circumstances?

ICE’s assertion that Javar would have been ineligible to enter the US at the time of his original application suggests that the agency is more concerned with upholding technicalities than providing humanitarian consideration. This argument fails to account for the fact that Javar has lived in the country without incident for decades.

The broader context of Javar’s detention cannot be separated from the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. As The Guardian reported last year, a significant number of individuals targeted by ICE had no prior convictions or were deemed “violent criminals.” Nearly two-thirds of Americans surveyed after the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis disapproved of ICE’s actions.

Javar’s detention has severe consequences for his health. His daughter reports that meals are often delivered late, complicating his medication schedule. The online petition by Tanggol Migrante Movement highlights the situation: “Before his detention, [he] was actively receiving treatment for his Stage 4 Prostate Cancer, but since being taken into ICE custody, that course of treatment has been interrupted… He has recently developed a blood clot in his stomach.”

The Filipino government’s response to Javar’s situation is also concerning. Despite promises of support and assistance, the consulate has yet to provide concrete help, leaving Javar without critical aid during this difficult time.

Loreto Javar’s story serves as a stark reminder that America’s immigration policies often fail to account for the complexities and nuances of individual cases. As we consider these complex issues, it is essential that we prioritize compassion and humanity over bureaucratic requirements. The fate of Loreto Javar hangs in the balance, a poignant symbol of the consequences of our nation’s priorities.

In this era of mass deportations and increasing scrutiny of immigration policies, it is imperative that we reexamine the values that underpin America’s treatment of its residents and non-residents alike. We must ask ourselves: Will we continue down the path of dehumanizing those who seek to contribute to our society, or will we find a way to prioritize compassion and justice in our immigration system? The answer lies in how we choose to respond to Loreto Javar’s plight.

As this story unfolds, one thing is certain: we are witnessing a critical moment in America’s history. Will we rise to the challenge of upholding our values of compassion, justice, and humanity, or will we succumb to the pressures of bureaucratic expediency? The lives of individuals like Loreto Javar hang precariously in the balance, serving as a stark reminder that the consequences of our actions are not merely abstract policy debates but real human lives.