With tears in his eyes, an ailing Venezuelan man said it was “a beautiful moment” when he reunited with his brother who had traveled to the U.S. to donate a life-saving kidney — only to be detained by immigration officials.
After a month in custody — and a public pressure campaign that included the help of a member of Congress — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials temporarily released Jose Gregorio Gonzalez on Friday morning from a detention center in suburban Broadview.
The brothers met outside the facility and embraced each other.
“I’m extremely happy for the liberation of my brother,” Alfredo Pacheco, 37, told reporters through a translator during a brief appearance at the Pilsen Law Center, 1545 W. 18th St.
Gonzalez, 43, was detained on March 3 in Cicero while accompanying his brother to a dialysis appointment. Gonzalez had traveled to the U.S. from Venezuela without the right paperwork after learning of his brother’s end-stage kidney failure.
“We fought for one month and one day to reach this goal. … This was a beautiful moment,” Pacheco said.
He learned of his kidney failure after coming to the U.S. Pacheco has a pending asylum application, which can take years to resolve and prevents him from leaving the country. His wife and three children are in Venezuela.
Gonzalez’s release was unusual. Immigration officials rarely release undocumented immigrants for humanitarian reasons, according to advocates from the Pilsen-based Resurrection Project, who helped secure Gonzalez’s release.
This case was different because of the large community response, lobbying by at least one elected official and widespread news coverage, they said.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The brother who was released called the support “unbelievable.”
Nearly 2,000 people signed a petition demanding Gonzalez’s release. U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia lobbied immigration officials and wrote a letter asking for him to be set free.
“Let’s be clear here, this victory didn’t happen on its own,” said Tenoch Rodriguez, deportation defense organizer with the Resurrection Project. “We know that there are thousands of immigrant families facing similar and difficult injustices. But for now, today, we celebrate.”
In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said an immigration judge ordered Gonzalez to be “removed to his home country” before his March 3 arrest. He was granted a temporary stay after he provided proper documentation.
ICE determines temporary stays on an individual basis, and considers a person’s immigration history, criminal record and family ties, the agency said.
Gonzalez was released for one year due to “urgent humanitarian factors,” according to Peter Meinecke, an attorney with the Resurrection Project who is representing Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is required to check in periodically with immigration officials to ensure he has not violated any of the terms of his release, Meinecke said. He will be allowed to apply for a work permit. At the end of his release immigration officials could detain him and deport him to Venezuela, Meinecke said.
Meinecke said Gonzalez’s experience shows the potential for compassionate release for other immigrants who are here without documentation.
“Many nonviolent people are detained for long periods of time, simply for not having the appropriate immigration status,” Meinecke said. He said it would be better to offer them ways to come into compliance with immigration laws.
Garcia said Gonzalez’s case was concerning because it mirrors the other detention of immigrants who are sometimes profiled and arrested without a warrant.
“We’re troubled by the false rhetoric that has produced these types of detentions, this type of suffering, this type of uncertainty and fear,” Garcia told reporters.