ICE temporarily releases man trying to save brother in need of kidney transplant in Cicero

BERWYN, Ill. (WLS) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement temporarily released a man, who is trying to save his brother's life, from a Broadview facility on Friday morning.

According to his attorney, Peter Meinecke, José Gregorio González has been granted supervised release for one year to care for his dying sibling and possibly donate a kidney to him.

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"ICE has granted José a stay of removal for one year and released him under an order of supervision. This means ICE has decided José's release is warranted due to urgent humanitarian factors. José will now be able to return home, where he can resume the process of donating his kidney and saving his brother's life. José's release is not permanent. He will be subject to an order of supervision. He will be required to periodically check in with ICE to ensure that he has not violated any of the terms of his release. This is part of an alternative to detention program for individuals whose continued detention is not in the public interest. While José is released on an order supervision, he will be eligible to apply for a work permit at the end of one year; ICE could detain him and could ultimately seek to remove him to Venezuela," said Meinecke, who is a senior staff attorney at The Resurrection Project.

González was detained by ICE last month while accompanying his brother, José Alfredo Pacheco, to a dialysis appointment. Pacheco of Cicero has end-stage kidney failure, and needs a transplant.

Friday marked an emotional reunion between the two brothers, who appeared together at a press conference with the Resurrection Project in Pilsen.

Visibly emotional and wearing a mask, Pacheco told the media that he just had a dialysis appointment on Friday morning, and he would not wish this illness on anybody.

"I want to inform you that I'm extremely happy for the liberation of my brother. We fought for one month and one day to reach this goal," Pacheco said, in Spanish. "Thank you to the team of my lawyer, Peter. Thank you to the press that has helped get to this goal. I'm extremely thankful. Thank you very much."

Gonzalez stood behind his brother as he spoke.

"This was a beautiful moment. We grew up very united," Pacheco said.

The brothers embraced as advocates with the Resurrection Project also addressed the media.

"We know there are thousands of immigrant families facing similar injustices but for now, today," Resurrection Project community organizer Tenoch Rodriguez said.

When asked what the first thing they will do together will be, Pacheco said they are going to call their mother so she can see them together.

"This is a a happy family reunion, and we hope to have more of this in the future," U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia said.

González sought asylum from Venezuela, and came to the U.S. at the end of 2023, when he learned of his brother's diagnosis.

Supporters say he was allowed, up until last month, to care for his brother in Cicero, while under an order of supervision, which required him to wear an ankle monitor.

The Resurrection Project, the group representing González, says he does not have a criminal background.

"This is literally a matter of one, of brotherly love, of someone trying to save his brother's life, and so I think it's fair that he be given the opportunity to do that," Meinecke said.

It still has not been determined whether González is an organ donor match or not, but supporters say, even if he is not, he can still donate to another patient and secure a transplant for his brother through a paired kidney exchange.

González could still be deported in a year. But for now, there is gratitude for this moment.

González says "he's very happy for all the help and all the support, and to see his brother is unbelievable," a translator said.

Now there will be testing to see if González is a match for his brother. Until then, Pacheco has to do dialysis.

"Most people who work in immigration will tell you, outcomes like this are not common," Meinecke said.

ICE said in a statement Friday: "Jose Gregorio Gonzalez, 43, is a citizen of Venezuela who has been ordered removed to his home country by an immigration judge," an ICE spokesperson told ABC News on Friday evening. "Gonzalez was arrested and placed in ICE custody March 3 without incident. After providing proper documentation ICE granted Gonzalez a temporary stay on humanitarian grounds."

ABC News contributed to this report.