Parents detained for months for trying to get to their son. The family is reunited just a day before their 18yo breathes his last

Isidoro González Avilés and Norma Anabel Ramírez Amaya reunited with their 18-year-old son, Kevin González, in Durango, Mexico, just one day before he passed away from cancer. The teenager, who was a United States citizen, died on Sunday afternoon after spending his final moments with his parents.

According to CNN. Kevin, who was born in the United States but raised in Mexico, became ill during a visit to family in Chicago around Christmas. Medical professionals diagnosed him with stage 4 colon cancer. In an attempt to see his parents before he died, Kevin flew to Mexico roughly a week ago. His parents, who are Mexican nationals, had previously been deported from the United States after entering the country illegally. 

Hoping to see their son following his diagnosis, the couple attempted to reenter the United States in April. According to the Department of Homeland Security, they were arrested near Douglas, Arizona. The couple spent weeks in detention before they were eventually deported to Mexico on Friday.

They had tried every legal way to get to him after his diagnosis

Kevin’s father, Avilés, expressed relief that they could fulfill the teenager’s final wish. “We managed to make my son’s dream come true: to be with him again, to love him, to give him the love we could not give him during these months when he was not with us,” he said.

The path to this reunion was difficult for the family. Avilés noted that they had exhausted various options to see their son legally. “We sought every option. They denied us visas. They detained us at the border,” he said. 

The Department of Homeland Security stated that the couple had applied for temporary nonimmigrant B1/B2 visas, but the requests were denied due to their previous unlawful presence and entries into the United States. I do understand immigration’s stand, especially considering Trump’s policies. Last year, they even arrested firefighters during an active fire. Some things, however, like this case, should be considered the exceptions.

During his time in detention, Avilés claimed they were treated like criminals and were chained at the hands and feet for court appearances. He further stated, “We went through a lot, and in the end, all I want is to be with him.”

Amaya referred to her son as the best gift. “These tears are from emotion, from seeing him again, from touching him again, from telling him how much I love him,” she said.

Representative Delia Ramirez, who represents the district in Chicago where Kevin received treatment, criticized the handling of the family’s situation. “Rejecting visas to Kevin’s family did not protect our communities,” she said. 

“Putting families through the pain, stress, and fear of separation is not making our loved ones safer. Detaining immigrants for months in for-profit, inhumane detentions is not securing our nation.”

Reflecting on his son’s character, Avilés noted that Kevin was very strong. Kevin had planned to spend Mother’s Day giving his mother many hugs. Though the family is putting up a strong front, it hard to ignore the fact that they could have spent weeks with their ailing son instead of just a day.