Visa denied for man trying to get to son's funeral in Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A military family from Wyandotte County says they're experiencing grief they never could have imagined.
U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Gonzalez died last weekend at a family function in California. He'd served five years at Fort Leavenworth as a medic. While military leaders at the Leavenworth County base plan his funeral services, the Department of Homeland Security won't admit Sgt. Gonzalez's father into the U.S. from Mexico to attend the funeral.
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Four members of the Gonzalez family, who hail from Wyandotte County, served in the U.S. military. The family says their father, Carlos Gonzalez, won't be permitted access to the United States due to the White House's current restrictions on immigration.
Carlos Gonzalez left the U.S. 13 years ago to relocate to Durango, Mexico, according to his children.
'I'm trying to be patient,' Manuel Gonzalez said on Wednesday.
Manuel Gonzalez and his sister, Julieta Ojeda, are two of Carlos Gonzalez's five children. Gonzalez said he reached out to U.S. Congressman Derek Schmidt, who represents Leavenworth County.
The family was told they could apply for a non-immigrant visa, or they could visit the U.S.-Mexico border to show military credentials and request an exception. However, nothing could be guaranteed.
'All I can say is, have empathy. Imagine if you lost a brother or son who leaves behind a wife,' Gonzalez said.
'There's an honest-to-God tragedy here to be settled, and it's most important right now to get him here,' Ojeda said.
The Gonzalez children mentioned that since their father left for Mexico, he once attempted to illegally cross the border after being denied a VISA. The Department of Homeland Security won't answer questions about cases like this.
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A spokesperson for Rep. Schmidt's office sent a statement, indicating their staff was working with the family, but it didn't mention what could be next.
'We're only asking for an exception, especially in cases like ours, similar to ours, where the government touts America first, and Americans first and service members first, and now, we're being told no. Absolutely not,' Ojeda said.
Leaders at Fort Leavenworth told the Gonzalez family they intend to hold this funeral on base, but as for their father, they're required to cooperate with immigration laws. Manuel Gonzalez says he's going to the Mexico border outside El Paso, Texas on a Wednesday evening flight, in an attempt to please his father's case.
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