Legal Risks for Green Card Holders: Immigration experts caution that convictions for crimes involving ‘moral turpitude’ can result in removal proceedings, even long after the offense occurred. They emphasize the importance of pursuing U.S. citizenship for added protection and encourage green card holders to seek legal advice
SEATTLE, Washington – A 64-year-old Filipina green card holder has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon returning from a trip to the Philippines, drawing concern from immigrant advocates and U.S. lawmakers.
Lewelyn Dixon, who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines nearly five decades ago, was taken into custody on February 28 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Though a long-time lawful permanent resident, her detention stems from a non-violent criminal conviction that occurred over two decades ago.
Past Mistake Resurfaces: 2001 Embezzlement Conviction at the Heart of Detention
In 2001, Dixon pleaded guilty to embezzling $6,460 from the White Center Financial Center in Washington state, where she worked as a vault teller and operations supervisor. She was sentenced to 30 days in a supervised residential facility and ordered to pay restitution and a $100 court fee. According to records, Dixon completed her sentence and repaid the full amount by 2019.
Despite her rehabilitation and decades of lawful residence in the U.S., ICE officers detained Dixon upon her return from the Philippines—initiating removal proceedings.
Detention and Legal Proceedings
Dixon is currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. Her attorney, Benjamin Osorio, told Newsweek that the 2001 conviction triggered her detention. He emphasized that she was never sentenced to active jail or prison time and had fully complied with the court’s ruling.
Her family, including niece Emily Cristobal, said they were shocked and dismayed to learn of her detention on March 2. “She has lived in the U.S. nearly all her life,” Cristobal said. “This has blindsided us.”
Consular Support and Community Response
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco has offered assistance through its Assistance to Nationals (ATN) program, although as of press time, it had not received a formal request from Dixon’s family.
Community organizations such as GABRIELA Seattle have voiced support for Dixon, calling her case a glaring example of how long-standing immigrants can be targeted by harsh immigration enforcement policies.
Legal Risks for Green Card Holders
Immigration attorneys point out that lawful permanent residents can be placed in removal proceedings if convicted of crimes involving “moral turpitude,” such as embezzlement—even if the offense occurred years earlier and the sentence was fully served.
Arnedo S. Valera, a senior immigration attorney and co-founder of the Migrant Heritage Commission, has more than three decades of experience representing immigrants in removal cases. While not directly involved in Dixon’s case, Valera has explained that individuals in similar situations may be eligible to apply for Cancellation of Removal, provided the conviction is not classified as an aggravated felony. “It’s important to assess eligibility for relief under current immigration law, especially in cases involving older convictions,” he previously noted in legal forums.
Mayor Arvin Amatorio of Bergenfield, New Jersey—also a seasoned immigration lawyer—has long advocated for naturalization as a critical step for green card holders with prior legal issues. “U.S. citizenship provides a level of protection that green cards do not,” Amatorio said in a 2024 interview, urging immigrants to consult legal experts and pursue citizenship if eligible.
Legislative Action: A Broader Wake-Up Call
Dixon’s case has also drawn the attention of Hawaii State Representative Tina Grandinetti, who is championing SB816, legislation that would provide state-funded legal representation for immigrants facing deportation proceedings in Hawaii.
“Her story is not unique,” Grandinetti told Newsweek. “It’s part of a broader attack on immigrants—an attack on our families, our friends, and our community as a whole.”
Her remarks underscore growing concern over the systemic risks faced by green card holders and long-term residents caught in the crosshairs of evolving immigration policies.
Awaiting Judgment
Dixon’s hearing before an immigration judge is scheduled for July 17. Her legal team is preparing to seek relief from removal and advocate for her right to remain in the country she has called home since childhood.
As her case unfolds, it is becoming a cautionary tale—one that highlights the importance of legal awareness for green card holders and the precarious nature of lawful permanent residency when faced with past criminal convictions.
