Venezuelan kidney donor detained by ICE after brother's transplant complications
Jul 21, 2026·Location: Chicago, IL
Country of origin: Venezuela

José Gregorio González, a 43-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, traveled to the United States to donate a kidney to his brother José Alfredo Pacheco, who has end-stage renal disease. González was arrested in March 2025 after accompanying his brother to a dialysis appointment, despite having no criminal record and a deportation order on file. ICE temporarily released him in April 2025 to proceed with the kidney donation. The transplant occurred in August 2025. González's one-year humanitarian parole expired in March 2026, and his attorney was seeking an extension to allow him to remain in the country through March 2027 for post-transplant medical monitoring. On July 21, 2026, González was detained by ICE during a routine immigration check-in while the parole extension was being pursued. Pacheco has experienced complications since the transplant and relies on González for care.
Timeline
Sources
- Venezuelan organ donor reunites with his sick brother after ICE temporary release
NBC News·Apr 4, 2025·archived copy
- Organ donor for ailing brother to be temporarily released from immigration detention
NBC News·Apr 3, 2025·archived copy
- Immigrant who donated lifesaving kidney to his brother is detained by ICE again
NBC News·Jul 31, 2026·archived copy
- Kidney donor released by ICE after appeal to save his brother's life
- ICE detains Venezuelan man who had been released on humanitarian parole to donate kidney to brother
bancodeprofissionais.com·Jul 29, 2026·archived copy
- ICE detains Venezuelan man released on humanitarian parole to donate kidney to Chicago-area brother
abc7chicago.com·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
Yahoo News·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
Yahoo News·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
- Donate to Help Bring Gregorio Home From ICE Detention, organized by Joanne Rixon
GoFundMe·Jun 7, 2026·archived copy
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