Pinoy detained by ICE loses fight to stay in US
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday confirmed the impending deportation of Greggy Valerio Sorio, a Filipino detainee at the Northwest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in the United States.
Citing information from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, the DFA said in a statement that the US Immigration Court issued an order for Sorio’s removal, while an application for stay of removal was also denied by ICE.
Sorio had his toe amputated in October, which, according to Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM), was a bone infection likely due to conditions inside the detention facility.
“From the time the Consulate General was made aware of his medical concerns, it repeatedly coordinated with the relevant officials to ensure that he was examined and provided with appropriate medical attention,” the DFA said.
While the consulate general had conveyed requests for humanitarian consideration to allow Sorio to substantially recover from his medical condition (ulcerative colitis) before his deportation, the DFA said the ICE Health Services Corps has “deemed him medically cleared for deportation.”
The DFA added that it would provide assistance to Sorio, a legal permanent resident who migrated to the US at age 18 to look for a job to escape from poverty in the Philippines.
In a post on March 6, ICE Seattle announced his arrest, saying he was convicted by the state of Alaska for assault, theft, burglary, reckless endangerment and violation of a domestic violence protective order.
TMM said Sorio was detained for months at the ICE facility in Tacoma while battling ailments.
