Tragic Case of Randall Gamboa Esquivel: A Family's Quest for Answers

Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old Costa Rican man, was deported from the United States in a vegetative state and died shortly after returning home. Gamboa had crossed the US-Mexico border in December 2024, seeking work in New Jersey, but was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for re-entering unlawfully after previously living in the US from 2002 to 2013. He was held at the Webb County detention center and later transferred to the Port Isabel detention center in Texas. In September 2025, he was flown back to Costa Rica on an air ambulance, where he died on October 26, 2025.

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Medical records indicate that Gamboa was hospitalized for an "altered mental status" and diagnosed with multiple serious conditions, including sepsis and toxic encephalopathy, while in ICE custody. His family, particularly his sister Greidy Mata, expressed disbelief over the rapid deterioration of his health, noting that he had appeared healthy during their last video call on June 12, 2025. Mata stated, “How is it possible that a man that left healthy... came back dirty, looked abandoned, with ulcers on his entire body, in a vegetative state?”

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Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated that Gamboa received appropriate medical care while in custody, including mental health assessments. However, Mata and other family members criticized the lack of communication from both ICE and the Costa Rican consulate regarding Gamboa’s health status. Mata revealed that the family learned of Gamboa's condition through a lawyer rather than official channels, raising concerns about the transparency of ICE's medical practices.

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The cause of Gamboa's death remains undetermined, with his death certificate listing no cause. A spokesperson from Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department indicated that forensic investigations are ongoing and require several studies to ascertain the cause of death. Mata expressed her conviction that the conditions of Gamboa's detention contributed to his health decline, stating, “I am convinced that the precarious conditions under which my brother was detained worsened his health.”

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Gamboa's death has resonated deeply within his community in Pérez Zeledón, where he was remembered as a healthy and happy individual prior to his departure for the US. The local groundskeeper, Donald Sanchez, noted the outpouring of grief from the community, stating, “You could tell people loved him and that Pérez Zeledón was shaken by his death.” The case has sparked discussions about the treatment of immigrants in the US, with many expressing fear and skepticism about seeking opportunities abroad.

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• “How is it possible that a man that left healthy, tall, chubby, robust, came back dirty, looked abandoned, with ulcers on his entire body, in a vegetative state?” — Greidy Mata Esquivel, Sister of Randall Gamboa

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• “I am convinced that the precarious conditions under which my brother was detained worsened his health – and no one will change my mind about that,” — Greidy Mata Esquivel, Sister of Randall Gamboa

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• “The causes of death are still under investigation.” — Costa Rican Authorities

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• “I once had a dream of going to the US, but after what happened to him, I don’t think so. And I know of others that wouldn’t either. It’s like there’s hate toward immigrants in the US.” — Donald Sanchez, Groundskeeper

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The tragic circumstances surrounding Randall Gamboa Esquivel's detention and subsequent death highlight significant issues within the US immigration system and raise urgent questions about the treatment of detainees.

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