Filipino in ICE detention ‘mistaken’ for gang member based on tattoos

Filipino union leader Maximo Londonio has been placed in solitary confinement after he was ‘mistakenly’ profiled as a gang member because of his tattoos. His family and Tanggol Migrante claim it’s retaliation for his activism. FILE PHOTOS

NEW YORK — The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco has sought clarification from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the placement of Filipino union leader Maximo Londonio in solitary confinement after he was “mistaken” for a gang member because of his tattoos.

In a letter to Inquirer.net USA, Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer said the consulate has monitored Londonio’s case since his arrest on May 16 and has maintained regular contact with him and his family.

Londonio, 42, has recently been placed in isolation at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington, according to Londonio’s wife, Crystal, and the migrant rights advocacy group Tanggol Migrante.

Maximo Londonio (right) with his family | FILE PHOTO

Tanggol Migrante said the transfer of Londonio was “retaliation” for exposing inhumane conditions at the center and fighting for the rights of fellow detainees.

The group has also accused the Consulate of failing to provide adequate assistance to Londonio, a longtime green card holder and labor activist.

In response to the group’s criticism, Consul General Ferrer said: “Contrary to such claims, the consulate, in line with its mandate to provide assistance to Filipino nationals through rights protection and welfare promotion, has been in direct communication with the authorities, the next of kin of detained Filipino nationals, and the detainees themselves who are under the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the consulate’s jurisdiction, including Mr. Maximo Londonio.”

The consulate said officials coordinated with ICE after receiving information from Londonio’s wife that he was transferred to isolation. They arranged a phone call with Londonio to verify his situation.

“From the time it received information from Mrs. Londonio regarding her husband’s transfer to ‘isolation,’ the Consulate coordinated with ICE in Tacoma, Washington, and was able to arrange a phone call with Mr. Londonio to verify the circumstances of his transfer,” Ferrer said.

Mistaken for gang member based on his tattoos

“Londonio stated that he did not request to be transferred but was allegedly mistaken for being affiliated with a gang based mainly on his tattoos.”

Londonio, known as Kuya Max, is a lead forklift driver at Crown Cork & Seal in Olympia and a member of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) for more than seven years.

The consulate has formally requested clarification from ICE about the reason for Londonio’s transfer.

“With the information obtained from Mr. Londonio, the consulate sent an official letter to the ICE Assistant Field Office Director on June 18, 2025, requesting clarification on the reason for Mr. Londonio’s transfer and asking that he be returned to his previous detention zone, considering his safety and security,” Ferrer said.

Londonio has maintained that he is not a gang member and was mistaken for one.

“As of June 23, 2025, the Consulate was able to communicate again with Mr. Londonio and reiterated to ICE officials that he has declared he is not a gang member, was mistakenly affiliated with a gang based on tattoos, and did not request to be transferred,” Ferrer said. “The Consulate urged authorities to facilitate his immediate return to his previous detention zone for his safety.” 

The consulate pledged to continue advocating for Londonio’s welfare, emphasizing, “The consulate’s Assistance to Nationals section will continue coordinating with authorities, respecting US immigration laws and privacy policies, to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipino nationals.”

Londonio was detained by ICE after returning from a family visit to the Philippines last month. He now faces deportation proceedings.

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Advocacy groups, including Tanggol Migrante, have alleged that his placement in solitary confinement was retaliation for his activism inside NWDC.

Londonio remains in isolation as his family and supporters continue to call for his immediate release. The Consulate said it will continue to monitor his case and advocate for his safety.

According to Tanggol Migrante, Londonio was detained due to prior nonviolent convictions from his youth, despite having previously traveled between the US and the Philippines without incident. 

US immigration law allows for the detention and possible deportation of green card holders who have certain prior convictions, regardless of whether they have already served their sentences or how old the convictions are. 

Londonio’s family and advocates emphasize that his convictions are old and nonviolent, and that his detention is part of a broader pattern affecting Filipino green card holders returning from overseas travel.