Judge Frees Detained Filipino After Health Crisis in ICE

After losing a toe, part of his foot, and 22 pounds during immigration detention, Greggy Sorio walked free last Friday thanks to a federal judge who said his treatment crossed a constitutional line.

US District Judge Tana Lin granted the 37-year-old's release from Tacoma's Northwest ICE Processing Centre, calling the facility's care "unreasonable" and the health consequences "extreme." Sorio developed a bone infection while detained that progressed so severely that doctors had to amputate one toe and a portion of his foot.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone. I'm speechless," Sorio told supporters at a celebration hosted by the Tanggol Migrante Movement. The advocacy group called the announcement unexpected, noting that judicial intervention in detention conditions remains uncommon.

Sorio, known to friends as "Kuya G," came to the United States from Lingayen, Pangasinan in the Philippines in 2007 on a green card. He had been held at the Tacoma facility while awaiting the outcome of deportation proceedings.

The Bright Side

While Sorio still faces a deportation order and the possibility of removal from the US, his case represents a meaningful shift in how courts are examining immigration detention practices. Judge Lin's ruling established that detention becomes unconstitutional when facilities fail to provide basic medical care, setting a precedent that could help other detainees suffering from neglect.

The decision also highlights the growing role of advocacy organizations like Tanggol Migrante Movement in monitoring detention conditions and pursuing legal remedies. Their work on Sorio's habeas corpus petition brought his medical crisis to judicial attention, demonstrating how grassroots advocacy can achieve concrete results even in difficult immigration cases.

For now, Sorio is reuniting with his community and recovering from his ordeal. His release won't resolve his immigration status, but it does ensure he'll receive proper medical care while his case proceeds. Sometimes justice means simply acknowledging when the system has caused preventable harm and taking steps to stop it.