A Victory for Family and Community: José and Alfredo’s Transplant Success
Brothers Alfredo Pacheco, left, and Jose Gregorio Gonzalez prepare for a living kidney transplant on Aug. 14, 2025, at University of Illinois Hospital. (Hoss Fatemi/UI Health Marketing)
This month, our community celebrates the incredible power of solidarity, compassion, and advocacy.
On April 4, after spending weeks in ICE detention, José Gregorio González was granted humanitarian parole—just in time to undergo surgery and donate a kidney to his brother Alfredo. Now, after months of waiting and prep, we’re proud to share that their surgery on Thursday, August 14 was a success! Thanks to this lifesaving operation, Alfredo has been given a second chance at life.
This outcome was far from guaranteed. José’s detention placed his brother’s life at serious risk. It was only through the tireless work of advocates, elected officials, community members, and TRP’s organizing and legal teams that ICE finally granted his release.
The story has received national and international attention, highlighting both the urgency and humanity:
José and Alfredo's journey is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake in our fight for immigrant justice. Families belong together—not separated by detention walls or forcibly beyond borders. Their story shows what’s possible when we come together, raise our voices, and build networks to protect one another.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who signed petitions, showed up, and spread the word. This victory is for all of us.
Community members from the Berwyn-Cicero Rapid Response Network created a GoFundMe to support the brothers through their recovery:
