Immigration Authorities Allow Detainee To Donate Kidney To Sister
(CBS) -- A 23-year-old Chicago woman who pleaded with immigration authorities not deport her older brother so that he can donate a life-saving kidney is back with him, and they'll soon undergo the transplant.
Jazmine Longoria was reunited with her older brother, Argenis, on Thursday outside the immigration court building in the South Loop just after his release.
"I'm very happy, very emotional, It's unexplainable the way that I feel to have my brother back and to know that I'm soon going to get my kidney and be good and healthy," Jazmine said.
Her brother was thankful to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for his temporary humanitarian release.
"I really was hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. It's the greatest news I've heard in a long time. I'm ready to go through with it," he said.
His permanent resident status was revoked after he served time for burglary, and deportation was imminent.
Julie Contreras, of the League of United Latin American Citizens, was assisting with the case.
"This young man is not the Unabomber, he's about to save a human life and we commend the government for what they did today," Contreras said.
She said Longoria paid his debt to society and should be allowed to stay here with his two young children, who are American citizens.