Tragedy Strikes in US Immigration Detention: Family Demands Answers After Man Dies in Vegetative State During Deportation
The heartbreaking story of Randall Alberto Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old Costa Rican man who was deported from the US to his home country last month, has sparked outrage among his family and supporters. According to reports, Gamboa had been detained by ICE in February after attempting to re-enter the US in search of work, despite being in poor health.
Despite receiving medical treatment for unspecified psychosis at a Texas hospital, Gamboa's condition rapidly deteriorated, leaving him in a vegetative state. His family reported that they were unable to contact him after he disappeared from the detention center in June, and it wasn't until August that they finally located him with the help of a third attorney.
The air ambulance paid for by ICE flew Gamboa to Costa Rica on September 3rd, where he was admitted to an emergency room before being transferred to a hospital in his hometown. Just six weeks later, Gamboa succumbed to encephalopathy, muscle ailment rhabdomyolysis, and the inability to eat on his own.
The Trump administration has come under fire for its handling of Gamboa's case, with family members claiming that the medical treatment he received was "terrible." In a statement, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE's actions, saying that Gamboa had been diagnosed with psychosis and received proper mental health care. However, critics argue that this excuse does not justify the inhumane conditions under which Gamboa was held.
The case has sparked international condemnation, including from Costa Rica's former president, Óscar Arias, who has expressed support for Gamboa's family. Arias condemned what he called "complicit silence" from both Costa Rica and the US, stating that Gamboa's family deserves to know the truth about his treatment.
Gamboa's case highlights the need for greater scrutiny of ICE's treatment of detainees, particularly those with pre-existing medical conditions. The Trump administration's priorities on immigration have led to an increase in detention without trial, leaving many vulnerable individuals like Gamboa facing dire consequences.
As the family continues to seek answers and justice for their loved one, they are met with resistance from the very institutions that were supposed to protect him. The United States needs to recognize the humanity of its immigrant detainees and work towards creating a more compassionate system that prioritizes their safety, security, and wellbeing.
The heartbreaking story of Randall Alberto Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old Costa Rican man who was deported from the US to his home country last month, has sparked outrage among his family and supporters. According to reports, Gamboa had been detained by ICE in February after attempting to re-enter the US in search of work, despite being in poor health.
Despite receiving medical treatment for unspecified psychosis at a Texas hospital, Gamboa's condition rapidly deteriorated, leaving him in a vegetative state. His family reported that they were unable to contact him after he disappeared from the detention center in June, and it wasn't until August that they finally located him with the help of a third attorney.
The air ambulance paid for by ICE flew Gamboa to Costa Rica on September 3rd, where he was admitted to an emergency room before being transferred to a hospital in his hometown. Just six weeks later, Gamboa succumbed to encephalopathy, muscle ailment rhabdomyolysis, and the inability to eat on his own.
The Trump administration has come under fire for its handling of Gamboa's case, with family members claiming that the medical treatment he received was "terrible." In a statement, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE's actions, saying that Gamboa had been diagnosed with psychosis and received proper mental health care. However, critics argue that this excuse does not justify the inhumane conditions under which Gamboa was held.
The case has sparked international condemnation, including from Costa Rica's former president, Óscar Arias, who has expressed support for Gamboa's family. Arias condemned what he called "complicit silence" from both Costa Rica and the US, stating that Gamboa's family deserves to know the truth about his treatment.
Gamboa's case highlights the need for greater scrutiny of ICE's treatment of detainees, particularly those with pre-existing medical conditions. The Trump administration's priorities on immigration have led to an increase in detention without trial, leaving many vulnerable individuals like Gamboa facing dire consequences.
As the family continues to seek answers and justice for their loved one, they are met with resistance from the very institutions that were supposed to protect him. The United States needs to recognize the humanity of its immigrant detainees and work towards creating a more compassionate system that prioritizes their safety, security, and wellbeing.
the thought of him being in that state after receiving medical treatment for psychosis is just unbearable... i feel like his family deserves so much better from the system they're supposed to rely on 
ICE needs to be held accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to vulnerable people like gamboa. the fact that he was left in a vegetative state for weeks before finally being located is just unacceptable 
we need to do better as a society and prioritize compassion over profits 
randall was in such poor health and they still sent him back to costa rica... i mean what kinda treatment did he get on the plane ride? it sounds like a total nightmare... my heart goes out to his family, they deserve answers not more excuses from ice... 6 weeks is an eternity for someone who was already barely hanging by a thread... this case is a clear example of how broken the system is 
gamboa was literally fighting for his right to survive and the system just broke him 
ice is supposed to be protecting people not putting them through hell 
the fact that his family had to fight for answers and justice is just infuriating 
this is just so sad 
. I mean, can't we even get it right when it comes to people in detention? They're already vulnerable & scared, the last thing they need is subpar medical care 
. It's like, come on US, you gotta do better 
. The fact that his family isn't getting answers is just ridiculous 
. It's time for the US to acknowledge its immigrant detainees as human beings, not just numbers 
.
come on guys, what's up with these detentions? I mean, I get it, immigration laws and all that but can't they just give people some basic medical care before sending them off to who-knows-where? 
this guy was literally in a vegetative state and ICE still managed to mess him up even more 
. it's all just a big game of "let them rot" if you ask me... 
the whole thing is just so messed up 
i mean we all know our school system is flawed but at least we have healthcare that actually works here 
it's all about profits and power, not people's lives 
we need to do better for Randall's family and for everyone else who's going through this