In a stunning display of selective immigration enforcement, ICE has temporarily suspended deportation for a Venezuelan illegal immigrant so he can donate a kidney to his brother — proving once again that our border laws are merely suggestions when politically expedient.
At a Glance
- José Gregorio González, who illegally entered the U.S., was granted one-year humanitarian parole to potentially donate a kidney to his brother
- González was released from ICE detention after significant pressure from left-wing activists and politicians in Illinois
- Despite having a pending removal order, González now walks free with an ankle monitor while millions of other illegal immigrants remain in the country without consequence
- The case highlights the inconsistent application of U.S. immigration laws under the current administration
Another Day, Another Immigration Exception
So let me get this straight. A Venezuelan migrant illegally enters our country, gets caught, faces a removal order, but then gets a free pass for a year because activists make enough noise? José Gregorio González was detained by ICE on March 3 after accompanying his brother to kidney dialysis.
The detention came as a shock to some, although it shouldn’t have, considering González had already been denied entry at our southern border and had a pending removal order. But apparently, our immigration laws come with asterisks and footnotes depending on who you know and how much media attention you can generate.
González’s brother, José Alfredo Pacheco, suffers from end-stage renal disease and needs a kidney transplant. It’s a heartbreaking situation, without a doubt. Pacheco lives in Cicero, Illinois, works for Amazon, and is awaiting asylum.
But the question remains: why do we have laws at all if we’re going to selectively enforce them based on emotional appeals? This administration has created an immigration system where exceptions are the rule, and enforcement is optional.
A Venezuelan man from Cicero will be temporarily released from ICE custody to donate a kidney to his ailing brother, according to immigration advocates.https://t.co/SJ0b4vkP0c
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) April 3, 2025
The Activist Machine at Work
González’s release didn’t happen in a vacuum. It took a well-orchestrated pressure campaign from the usual suspects: local officials, community advocates, and immigration activists, most notably The Resurrection Project. They organized protests, pulled political strings, and essentially forced ICE’s hand. The detention sparked demonstrations in Chicago and an onslaught of pressure from lawmakers. And just like that, immigration law bent to political will, showing once again that our border security is only as strong as the political resolve to enforce it.
“This is literally a matter of life and death,” said Erendira Rendón, as if millions of Americans aren’t also facing life-threatening conditions without the benefit of having the immigration rules rewritten for them.
González will now get to wear an ankle monitor, check in with his ICE officer, and potentially apply for a work permit – luxuries not afforded to citizens with criminal records. Meanwhile, millions of illegal immigrants in our country face no consequences whatsoever, roaming freely without even the pretense of supervision. The message? Break our laws, but make sure your story is sympathetic enough to make the evening news.
A Venezuelan man who’d been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement was reunited with his brother on Friday after being granted a temporary release with supervision so he can donate a kidney in hopes of saving his sibling’s life.https://t.co/vCej5XINnF
— WGN TV News (@WGNNews) April 5, 2025
The Bigger Picture of Border Chaos
While González’s story is being spun as a heartwarming tale of brotherly love triumphing over bureaucracy, it’s really a case study in how our immigration system has become a farce. What about the Americans waiting for organ transplants? What about the legal immigrants who followed the rules? What about the rule of law itself? The same activists celebrating this release as a victory for “immigrant justice” are the same ones who have worked tirelessly to dismantle any semblance of border security.
“This case reminds us of the urgency for immigrant justice,” said García, conveniently forgetting about the urgency for national sovereignty and the rule of law.
Let’s be clear: no one wishes ill on González or his brother. We hope the kidney donation is successful and saves a life. But we also hope for a country where laws mean something, where borders are respected, and where immigration policy isn’t determined by which illegal immigrant has the most heart-wrenching story to tell on the evening news. Until then, we’ll continue to watch as our immigration system crumbles one humanitarian exception at a time.
