CHICAGO — In an emotional reunion, the parents of an 18-year-old Chicago native battling terminal cancer have finally been reunited with him after being held in federal custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The heartwarming reunion occurred on Saturday in Durango, Mexico, where the family could finally come together during a challenging time.
Kevin Gonzalez, who was visiting Chicago to spend the holidays with his brother, received the devastating diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer while there.
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Desperate to be by their son’s side after learning of his condition, Kevin’s parents sought emergency visas. However, their applications were rejected due to their prior deportation from the United States.
In their determination to see Kevin, his parents attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization. Unfortunately, they were apprehended by ICE and subsequently held in a federal facility in Arizona.
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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