Chicago teen Kevin Gonzalez dies from cancer after renuion with parents
NBC 5 Chicago • • nation
Key Points:
- Kevin Gonzalez, an 18-year-old Chicago resident with terminal colon cancer, died one day after being reunited with his parents following their release from U.S. immigration custody.
- An immigration judge expedited the release of Gonzalez’s parents so they could join him in Mexico during his final days, after a public plea and advocacy from the Mexican consulate and lawmakers.
- Kevin was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, which spread to his stomach and lungs, and doctors deemed treatment no longer viable; his parents had been detained by ICE during attempts to cross the border to be with him.
- Despite denied humanitarian parole and visa applications due to prior unlawful entries, the family was finally reunited in Durango, allowing Kevin to spend his last moments surrounded by loved ones.
- Kevin’s story garnered widespread public support, symbolizing a powerful plea for compassion in immigration and healthcare crises.