Another wintry storm Friday

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A man taken into custody in Rochester Thursday by federal immigration agents is a kidney transplant recipient who did not have his life-saving medication when he was initially arrested.

The Department of Homeland Security says the man, Javier Abreu-Vasquez, now has access to those medications, although his family not has been able to confirm that.

State Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester, said a lawyer for the man was told Friday morning that Abreu-Vasquez would need a doctor’s note to be able to access the anti-rejection medication vital to his transplant.

She drove to the Twin Cities Thursday night to deliver the medication to Abreu-Vasquez at the Whipple Federal Building where he was being held. After conferring with his attorney this morning, she got a letter from his Mayo Clinic doctor.

She said she was concerned, though, because she hadn’t heard from federal officials as of Friday afternoon — after Abreu-Vasquez was scheduled to be transported by flight to a federal detention center in Texas.

By late Friday afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security said ICE was working with the family to ensure Abreu-Vasquez gets all of his needed medications.

DHS: Kidney recipient arrested by federal agents in Rochester has access to needed medications

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State Rep. Kim Hicks said she’s been concerned that man would not have access to his medication and might die without it. A Homeland Security spokesperson said later in the afternoon that ICE is working with the family to ensure he gets all of his needed medications.

DHS: Kidney recipient arrested by federal agents in Rochester has access to needed medications

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