United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested two Filipino green cardholders this May. The victims were identified as Maximo (Max) Londonio and Rodante “Dante” Rivera.

Londonio was returning home with his wife and child from their vacation in the Philippines when CBP arrested him at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 15. CBP arrested him for “nonviolent offenses” he committed in his youth.

Londonio, 42 years old, married with three children, moved to the US when he was only 12 years old. He has worked for five years at Crown Cork & Seal Company in Lacey as a forklift driver and is currently a lead member of their union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW).

CBP also arrested Rivera, 44 years old, at SeaTac Airport on May 18 for a case he was convicted of and resolved more than a decade ago.

Londonio was detained for five days in the CBP holding area known as the “black box” then transferred to the Northwest ICE Detention Center in Tacoma. Rivera is still detained in the CBP holding area.

The CBP holding area is called the “black box” because of its secret detention of immigrants. Cell rooms have no windows. Detainees here are deprived of health services, enough food, or other necessities. Detainees have no right to make calls, even to their lawyer.

Crystal, Londonio’s wife, said CBP agents sometimes forget to give Londonio food. He is often only provided noodles and, if he refuses, he is forced to buy his own food from the SeaTac Airport. He also needs to ask permission just to take a shower. Worst of all, the agent speaking with Tanggol Migrante and Crystal claimed not knowing that Londonio had long been detained in their facility.

At least four Filipino green card holders are currently being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, according to Tanggol Migrante.

Tanggol Migrante, together with Londonio’s friends and family, held a picket on May 19 outside SeaTac Airport to condemn his arrest.

“I am a US citizen, you have failed me. The US should set a good example so that the next generation can have more opportunities, because that is the ‘American dream.’ But that is not what is happening. He is being taken away from everyone seeking refuge, from everyone seeking freedom,” said Crystal, Londonio’s wife, at the picket.

“We are enraged that the Philippine government did not intervene quickly enough to fight for Max’s release. Crystal already feels the U.S. government has failed her. It’s shameful that the Philippine government has failed them too,” Tanggol Migrante’s Jo Faralan said.

The IAM union expressed support for Londonio’s fight and coordinated with his company to ensure keeping his job and with its allied organizations to call for his release.

“Like many nationwide, our brother in the IAM Union, Maximo, is simply striving to be a good husband and father to support his family. To our knowledge, no evidence justifies the US government’s continued detention of Maximo. We call for his immediate release. Our union is like a family — and we will stand up whenever any of our members have their human rights violated,” IAM Union Western Territory general vice president Robert Martinez said.

The Port of Seattle authorities expressed concern over Londonio’s detention and immediately inspected CBP operations at the international arrivals facilities at SeaTac Airport to understand its policies and protocols. They promised to continue coordinating with CBP to monitor how immigration policies are being implemented at their facility.

The Philippine embassy and consulates in the US stated that they are providing “appropriate assistance” but this falls short according to Tanggol Migrante.

Tanggol Migrante delivered an open letter signed by more than 100 organizations to San Francisco consul general Neil Ferrer and Philippine ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez to call for their greater accountability.

Bayan-Washington condemned the blatant neglect of the Philippine embassy and consulates regarding the situation of Londonio and his family.
“As part of the Tanggol Migrante Network, we fully support the fight of Kuya Max and his family to obligate Jose Romualdez, as ambassador of the Philippines, to intervene and use diplomatic pressure to ensure that Kuya Max is released immediately!”