Venezuelan Man Detained by ICE While Awaiting Kidney Donation for Brother

José Gregorio González remains in custody as his brother faces a life-threatening delay for a kidney transplant, with ICE reviewing a humanitarian parole request.

José Gregorio González, a Venezuelan immigrant, was arrested by ICE on March 3, 2025, disrupting plans to donate a kidney to his brother, José Alfredo Pacheco, who has end-stage kidney failure.
González is seeking humanitarian parole to proceed with the transplant, but his deportation remains likely as ICE reviews his case.
Pacheco, currently undergoing dialysis, risks waiting four to five years for a new kidney if González is deported before the transplant can occur.
Advocacy groups and elected officials, including Rep. Jesús 'Chuy' García, are urging ICE to release González on humanitarian grounds to save his brother's life.
The case highlights the ethical dilemmas of immigration enforcement, with critics pointing to reduced use of humanitarian parole under stricter policies implemented by the Trump administration.