After nearly three months, the United States court has granted the petition of Filipino national Lewelyn Dixon for cancellation of removal, leading to her release from immigration custody, the Philippine Embassy in Washington confirmed on Saturday, May 31.

“The Embassy welcomes the decision by a United States court to grant Ms. Lewelyn Dixon’s petition for cancellation of removal and to order her release,” the Embassy said in a statement dated May 30.

According to the Embassy, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco extended appropriate consular assistance to 64-year-old Dixon and ensured that her rights were protected throughout the hearing.

Dixon, a Filipino green card holder, was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while returning home to Seattle from a trip to the Philippines early this year. The arrest and detention stemmed from past convictions, including embezzlement and theft.

The court held its hearing in Tacoma, Washington, on May 29. During the proceedings, representatives from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco were present and later met with Dixon privately to provide welfare support approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Consulate General expressed support for the court’s ruling, describing it as a favorable outcome for Dixon and her family and friends.

“The Consulate welcomes the court’s decision granting her petition for cancellation of removal and ordering her release,” it said.

The Philippine government, through its embassy and consulates in the United States, reiterated its broader commitment to protect Filipino nationals regardless of their immigration status.

“The Philippine Government… remains committed to providing consular assistance to all Filipino nationals regardless of their immigration status while respecting the right of the United States to enforce its own domestic laws, including those on immigration,” the Philippine Embassy in Washington said.

For its part, the consulate emphasized that it operates in accordance with international law and reaffirmed its duty to assist Filipinos abroad.

"The Consulate affirms its commitment to extend the necessary assistance to all Filipino nationals under its jurisdiction and to perform its functions in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and other international agreements," it said.

The Consulate added that it remains “cognizant of its duty to respect the laws and relevant regulations of the host government.”

During the hearing, it was learned that Dixon was convicted of embezzling approximately $6,500 from a bank where she worked as a vault teller in 2001. Ten years later, she was convicted of theft after forgetting that she had left a few items while shopping at Walmart.