Nearly 275 supporters of Lewelyn Dixon celebrated her release on May 29, outside the Northwest Ice Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington. Her relatives, friends, union colleagues, members of Tanggol Migrante, and other organizations supporting the migrant struggle attended Dixon’s final hearing.

The court decided that Dixon should not be deported as she has been a permanent US resident for over 50 years. She has a long history of employment and tax payment, she has many relatives in the US, and many letters were submitted to the court in her behalf.

Dixon, 64, works as a lab technician at the University of Washington. On February 28, Customs and Border Protection agents arrested her at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport while she was returning to the US from the Philippines. She had been detained at NWDC since February.

“The biggest thing to realize is that she should never have been in there (NWDC) in the first place,” Dixon’s niece Emily Cristobal, a participant in the rally, said. She lauded those who supported her aunt. She said the solidarity shown by many organizations and unions demonstrates what a “true community looks like.”

“Without all of you, we would not be here,” she said.

The Tanggol Migrante Network also celebrated Dixon’s release. According to the group, Dixon stood not only for herself but also for Filipinos who remain unjustly detained at NWDC.

“She and her family are at the forefront of the struggle to defend Filipino migrant workers, demanding accountability from the Philippine government to fulfill its duty to those abandoned in ICE detention. We salute everyone who organized and mobilized nationwide—from Washington to Hawaii, Oregon, California, and Washington DC—to defend Tita Lyn and push for her release,” the group said.

According to SEIU Local 925, Dixon’s union, “we are very happy that Lewelyn can finally return home to her family after several months of uncertainty in ICE detention.” The union said Dixon was released because organizations asserted through rallies, letter writing, contacting officials, and raising our voices.

“But while we celebrate the return of our union sister, we must continue to fight to ensure that no one else will suffer Lewelyn’s ordeal,” it said.