Chicago, April 5 (V7N) – A Venezuelan man who traveled to the U.S. to donate a kidney to his sick brother was released from immigration detention on Friday after a month of protests and pressure from activists and lawmakers.

José Alfredo Pacheco, who has been suffering from renal disease, was set to receive a kidney transplant from his brother, José Gregorio González. However, González was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents before he could complete the procedure. The detention sparked protests in Chicago, and following the intervention of Illinois Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, as well as local lawmakers, González was released.

"I’m extremely happy for the liberation of my brother. We fought for one month and one day to reach this goal,” Pacheco said, holding back tears as he spoke to reporters.

The brothers, originally from Venezuela, have been separated for years due to the country's ongoing crisis. González had traveled to the U.S. in early 2024 to donate his kidney and care for his ailing brother. The two were living in Cicero, a suburb of Chicago, when ICE detained González last month.

At a press conference in Chicago, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García, who represents the area, criticized the arrest, calling it part of a broader pattern of racial profiling and unjust detentions targeting immigrants. "This case reminds us of the urgency for immigrant justice,” García said.

González, who had been held for over a month in detention centers in Indiana and Illinois, will be allowed to remain in the U.S. for one year to complete the organ donation process. During this time, he is allowed to work and must check in with immigration agents. After a year, he could be detained again and possibly deported.

The release comes amid ongoing challenges for immigrants across the U.S. following President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policies. In some cases, even individuals with work permits have been detained and deported, leading to widespread fear within immigrant communities.

“We’re troubled by the enforcement operations, by the false rhetoric that has produced these types of attention and fear in our community,” said García, who also expressed hope for future reunions like this one, where families are not torn apart by immigration policies.

As the brothers reunite, their first priority is to call their mother in Venezuela, sharing their joy and relief over their reunion.

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