Kevin González, an 18-year-old US citizen who had terminal colon cancer, has died shortly after reuniting with his parents in Mexico, his family has confirmed. The teen had publicly advocated for his parents' release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody so they could be with him in his final days.
González's parents, Isidoro González Avilés, 48, and Norma Anabel Ramírez Amaya, 43, were arrested by ICE in Arizona on 14 April after crossing the US border without permission to visit their son in Chicago. They were detained as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. A federal judge ordered their release on Thursday, and they were deported to Mexico on Friday, reuniting with Kevin at his grandmother's home in Durango on Saturday.
Kevin, who was born in Chicago but raised in Mexico, received his stage four colon cancer diagnosis in January while visiting relatives in Chicago. After treatment at the University of Chicago medical centre proved ineffective, he decided to return to Mexico to be with family. In a televised interview, his father was seen kneeling at his son's feet, asking for forgiveness, while his mother tearfully embraced him, calling him 'chiquito'.
Kevin's brother and aunt confirmed his death late Sunday afternoon. Congressman Jesús 'Chuy' García of Chicago issued a statement saying the family 'should have had more time together' and vowing to continue fighting for a humane immigration system. Kevin's case echoes that of Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old Chicago girl who died in February after pushing for her father's release from ICE custody, highlighting the human toll of the administration's policies.
