Venezuelan man fights deportation to donate kidney and save his brother’s life
Man fights deportation to be his brother’s kidney donor (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
A Venezuelan man who came to the United States to donate a kidney to his brother faced deportation but was temporarily released, CNN reports.
A 43-year-old Venezuelan, Jose Gregorio Gonzalez, arrived in the United States at the end of 2023 after learning that his brother, Jose Alfredo Pacheco, had been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease.
Pacheco, who came to the US in 2022 seeking asylum, discovered his condition after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Despite his brother’s critical health condition, Gonzalez faced deportation, which was a significant blow to both of them.
Gonzalez attempted to enter the United States twice. During his first attempt, he failed a credible fear interview and was denied entry. On his second try, he used a Customs and Border Protection app to schedule an interview but was detained due to a prior deportation order.
Later, he was released under supervision because, at that time, Venezuela was not accepting deportation flights. This allowed him to care for his brother and undergo compatibility tests for the kidney transplant. However, on March 3, ICE agents detained Gonzalez at their home in Cicero, Illinois.
Temporary relief and new hope
Despite a judge's refusal to stay the deportation, Gonzalez was granted humanitarian parole on Wednesday, allowing him to temporarily remain in the US to continue supporting his brother and potentially make the life-saving kidney donation. Tovia Siegel from the Resurrection Project stated that Gonzalez’s release is expected on Friday.
Pacheco, who requires dialysis three times a week, shared the challenges he faced without his brother: "It’s extremely difficult – sometimes, I can barely get out of bed," he said at a vigil. During Gonzalez's detention, Pacheco had to travel to medical procedures on his own, despite severe fatigue and nausea.
As of April 1, more than 90,000 people in the United States are on the kidney transplant waiting list, but only a small fraction receive a donor organ. If Gonzalez and Pacheco are found incompatible, they plan to join a kidney exchange program to help not only Pacheco but also another patient in need.
Deportation scandals involving Venezuelans in the US
The brothers' situation reflects a broader pattern of recent deportation controversies in the United States.
Recently, the Trump administration faced backlash for deporting hundreds of migrants despite a judge’s order temporarily halting removals. The deportees included alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, with two flights already en route to El Salvador and Honduras before the ruling took effect.
Compounding the issue, the Department of Justice refused to disclose details about the deportation flights, citing national security concerns.
Adding to the criticism, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited a prison in El Salvador last week, where deported Venezuelans accused of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang are held, prompting condemnation from human rights advocates.
