DURANGO, MEXICO – Kevin Gonzalez, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen and Chicago native, is issuing a heartbreaking plea from his hospice bed in Mexico. Battling stage four colon cancer, Kevin’s dying wish is to see his parents one last time—but they are currently held in federal immigration custody in Arizona.
A Rapidly Progressing Battle
Kevin was diagnosed with colon cancer in January, but the disease has moved with devastating speed. According to his grandmother, Virginia Amaya, the cancer has now invaded his stomach and lungs.
“He doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t eat,” Amaya said, describing the terminal state of her grandson’s health. Doctors have informed the family that medical treatment is no longer an option.
The Legal Struggle at the Border
The family’s separation stems from a complex immigration history. Kevin’s parents were deported in 2011. After learning of their son’s terminal diagnosis earlier this year, they attempted to return to the U.S. to be by his side.
However, federal officials state that the couple applied for B1/B2 visas instead of humanitarian parole. The visas were denied due to their previous immigration history. Following the denial, the couple allegedly attempted to cross the border illegally and were detained in Douglas, Arizona.
High-Level Intervention
The case has now gained international attention:
- The Mexican Consulate: Officials in Tucson are urging the judge to consider the family’s unique and tragic circumstances.
- Congressional Support: Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro is reportedly among the lawmakers advocating for the parents’ release.
The Final Decision
The parents are scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in Arizona this Thursday. If ordered for deportation, they would be released and sent to Nogales, potentially allowing them to reunite with Kevin in Mexico. However, if federal charges are pursued, they could remain in U.S. custody.
From his bed in Durango, Kevin remains focused on only one thing: “I just want to spend my last days with them.”
