TACOMA, Washington — U.S. immigration authorities released Maximo Londonio, a Filipino green card holder, from the Northwest Detention Center on Friday after nearly two months in custody for reasons related to his immigration status.
Londonio, also known as “Kuya Max,” expressed gratitude to supporters following his release but alleged he experienced abuse during his time in detention. He accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel of mistreatment and criticized the Philippine government for what he described as a lack of support.
Londonio and his wife, Crystal, publicly thanked the advocacy group Tanggol Migrante for their assistance throughout the case. Crystal voiced distress over the detention period and questioned the response of the Philippine consulate.
Following his release, Londonio pledged to advocate for migrant workers’ rights. He described the conditions inside the Tacoma facility as harsh and challenging.
ICE has not issued a statement in response to the abuse allegations. The Philippine government has also not released an official comment on the matter.