Lewelyn Dixon, lovingly known as Aunty Lynn or Tita Lew, is an adored laboratory technician at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC)- Montlake. At 64 years of age, she has lived in the United States for 50 years, initially moving from the Philippines to Hawaiʻi with her family, and later to the Greater Seattle Area. She is a fiery, vibrant woman, with a great sense of humor. At work, she’s respected for her strong work ethic and straight-forwardness. She has bountiful love for her homeland and family, and has made remarkable sacrifices for both, helping raise the nieces and nephews and their children, as well as making a commitment to maintain her family home in the Philippines for her father.
In February 2025, Aunty Lynn visited the Philippines with family. Upon her return to the US, Auntie Lynn was held in airport detention for 2 days without information on the reason for her detainment. She was only able to inform her family of the detainment when she was first held at the airport and then again when she was transferred to the NW Immigrant Processing Center or also known as Northwest Detention Center (NWDC).
Because of her status as an "arriving alien," meaning someone who is applying to come into the U.S lawfully through a port-of-entry, Dixon was not allowed a 'bail hearing,’ and has to wait until July 17, 2025 for her first hearing. NWDC is notorious for neglecting the well-being of people detained at the facility especially in relation to health, food and working conditions. Aunty Lynn has already experienced this neglect as her medication was withheld by ICE after she was initially detained.
On March 24, UW released statements sharing that they hope “Lewelyn receives due process” and urged migrant workers who are taking trips outside of the US to prepare for the potential that they would be detained. With support from SEIU 925, the family and the community was able to appeal to UW to keep her job secure but she has exhausted her PTO while being detained. Without being able to work, day to day expenses like mortgage payments and legal fees are increasingly harder to keep up with.
Aunty Lynn's detainment comes in the context of the current administration’s attempts to blatantly crackdown migrants and villainize them as criminals. But Aunty’s contributions to this country show otherwise. She is a productive community member who has entrusted this country with her life, labor, and talents. With over 50 years of her life dedicated to service to the people here, Auntie Lynn’s should be rewarded for her work. But instead, she is criminalized and discarded simply for being a migrant.
Aunty Lynn’s detainment comes in the context of the current administration’s attempts to blatantly crackdown on migrants and villainize them as criminals. But Aunty’s contributions show otherwise, she is a Philippine national who is here in the U.S. legally through regularly renewing her green card, working and paying taxes to support her family. As a productive community member who is beloved by her family, coworkers, and friends - she should not be criminalized and discarded simply for being a migrant. Her home country has yet to provide any support for her while in detention despite continuous promises that they will support Filipinos in distress.
In coordination with Aunty’s family and friends, the Tanggol Migrante Network in Washington and Hawaii, are collecting individual signatures and organizational endorsements to demand that:
- The US government #FreeLewelyn from her unjust detainment and the neglectful conditions at the Northwest Detention Center
- UW continue protect her livelihood at UWMC by retaining her position while she is in detention and to be proactive & establish better protections for migrant employees.
- The Philippine government 1) exert diplomatic power to demand her release from NWDC and 2) release Assistance to Nationals funds for legal fees
More information: https://tinyurl.com/DefendAuntyLyn
