Lab technician detained at airport for three months, released and becomes U.S. citizen
Jul 20, 2026·Location: Seattle, WA
Country of origin: Philippines

Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old Filipino green-card holder who had lived in the United States for over 50 years, was detained by CBP at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in late February 2025 after returning from a trip to the Philippines. Dixon worked as a lab technician at the University of Washington. Immigration officials cited criminal cases against her, including a 2000-2001 embezzlement conviction for which she served no jail time and completed restitution payments by 2019. After approximately three months in ICE detention at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Judge Tammy Fitting ruled in May 2025 that Dixon should not be deported and granted her relief available to lawful permanent residents. Following her release, Dixon applied for citizenship to protect herself from future enforcement actions. Her niece stated: "We're not even going to chance it again." On July 20, 2026, Dixon was naturalized as a U.S. citizen, reciting the Oath of Allegiance on her 66th birthday.
Timeline
Sources
- ICE releases health worker arrested at airport despite living in the U.S. legally for 50 years
NBC News·May 30, 2025·archived copy
nbcdfw.com·May 30, 2025·archived copy
- tri-cityherald.com
- archive.is
- Washington woman released from ICE detention center in Tacoma
nwpb.org·May 30, 2025·archived copy
- Seattle Times
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