MANILA – Gregorio “Greggy” Valerio Sorio, a 37-year-old Filipino green card holder detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since March 2025, remains in limbo at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, battling severe ulcerative colitis that has left him wheelchair-bound, requiring multiple surgeries—including a toe amputation—and ongoing treatment. His deportation, ordered after domestic violence convictions in Alaska, has been temporarily halted by a federal judge’s restraining order, but with the hold expiring soon and medication running low, Sorio fears for his life if forced to return to the Philippines without adequate care.
Sorio, who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years and has U.S. citizen family members, described his plight in heartfelt terms: “If they send me back to the Philippines, I am not gonna be well and I might die over there because I wouldn’t have my medication and I just started my treatment.” He criticized the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco for limited advocacy, saying: “The consulate said that they did their job, but they never really helped me at all. They never advocated for me.”
Timeline of Events
- March 2025: Sorio detained by ICE.
- October 2025: Immigration judge orders deportation.
- December 7, 2025: Scheduled flight to Manila; airline deems him unfit to fly, removing him from the plane after protests by advocates.
- December 8, 2025: Federal Judge Tiffany Cartwright grants temporary restraining order (TRO), stalling deportation until December 22, 2025, for medical stabilization.
- Current Status (as of December 14, 2025): Detained with ~11 days of medication left; TRO in effect.
Advocates from the Tanggol Migrante Movement rallied outside the facility, decrying “medical neglect”—including delayed treatment leading to infections and weight loss—and calling for humanitarian release. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated it requested delays for recovery but noted ICE cleared him medically for travel.
Sorio’s case highlights broader concerns over ICE treatment of detainees, especially under stricter enforcement policies, and the challenges Filipino migrants face in accessing consular support. As protests continue (December 10-18, aligning with Human Rights and Migrants Day), Sorio clings to hope for extended relief or release to receive proper care in the U.S.
This story underscores the human cost of immigration enforcement: For Sorio and his family, the holiday season brings uncertainty, not celebration—a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by long-term residents caught in the system.
Key Details Snapshot:
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Name/Age | Gregorio “Greggy” Valerio Sorio, 37 |
| Detention Start | March 2025 |
| Health Issues | Ulcerative colitis; toe amputation; wheelchair-bound |
| Deportation Order | October 2025 |
| TRO Expiration | December 22, 2025 |
| Advocacy Group | Tanggol Migrante Movement |