Overview
- Kevin González, 18, a U.S. citizen, died in Durango, Mexico shortly after reuniting with his parents who had been living there after deportation.
- His parents were arrested near Douglas, Arizona after an April 14 attempt to reenter the U.S., then an immigration judge ordered their release and expedited return to Mexico.
- The Department of Homeland Security said earlier visa applications were denied because of prior illegal entries and a 2011 deportation.
- Mexican consulates in Chicago and Tucson coordinated legal aid and travel, and a U.S. representative criticized months-long detention in for-profit facilities.
- The case shows how rules that punish past illegal crossings can leave families with no legal way to reunite during a medical crisis.