In a heart-wrenching turn of events, an 18-year-old Chicago native named Kevin Gonzalez succumbed to terminal cancer just a day after reuniting with his parents. This reunion was fraught with challenges, as his parents were detained by ICE while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to bid their beloved son farewell. According to the family, Kevin’s passing took place at a family home in Durango, Mexico, and was confirmed to ABC7.
Kevin’s battle with stage 4 colon cancer began during a visit to Chicago to see his brother over the holiday season. The diagnosis was devastating, and as his condition rapidly deteriorated, his mother shared with ABC7 that she and her husband sought emergency visas to be by their son’s side. However, their request was denied due to their previous deportations.
Desperate to be with Kevin in his final days, his parents made the arduous decision to cross the border illegally from Mexico. Unfortunately, their journey ended in Arizona, where they were apprehended by ICE and placed in federal custody. Despite these obstacles, they were eventually able to reunite with Kevin, albeit briefly, before his tragic passing.
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Kevin Gonzalez was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer while in Chicago visiting his brother over the holidays.
When the terminal diagnosis came, his mother told ABC7 she and her husband applied for emergency visas. They were denied, because both had been previously deported.
His parents, who live in Mexico, attempted to cross the border illegally to be with their son. They were detained by ICE and held in federal custody in Arizona.
The family fought to be reunited.
Knowing he might just have days left to live and wanting to hold his mother and father one last time, Gonzalez checked himself out of the University of Chicago Medical Center hospital last week and flew to his grandmother’s home in Mexico. He hoped that his parents would be released from custody and deported in time for him to say goodbye.
On Thursday, a judge in Arizona ordered the release of Gonzalez’s parents. On Friday, they returned to Mexico.
Gonzalez’s brother in Chicago, Jovany Ramirez, told ABC7 his parents were escorted by ICE to the border. That is where consulate officials helped them board a bus, and then an emergency flight was arranged for them to get home as quickly as possible.
A spokesperson for the Mexican Consulate in Chicago shared the following statement on Wednesday:
“The case has been closely monitored through our Consular Protection Department. However, it should be noted that, due to the location of the facility where our nationals are detained, direct consular assistance falls under the jurisdiction of the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson, which oversees that region. They are already in contact with the attorney representing Kevin’s parents and following up to further assist them in the repatriation process.
“This Consulate General remains in constant communication and coordination with our colleagues in Tucson to continue providing consular protection to the family.”
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