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An 18-year-old man originally from Chicago has tragically passed away after a courageous fight against terminal cancer. His death came just a day after he was emotionally reunited with his parents, who had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The family shared this heartbreaking news with ABC7.
Kevin Gonzalez succumbed to his illness on Sunday at a family residence in Durango, Mexico. His passing marks the end of a difficult journey that saw him diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer during a visit to his brother in Chicago over the holiday season.
The reunion with his parents was fraught with challenges. After receiving the devastating diagnosis, Kevin’s mother explained to ABC7 that she and her husband sought emergency visas to be with their son. However, their requests were denied due to their previous deportations, complicating their efforts to see him one last time.
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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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