OverviewRandall Gamboa Esquivel, a Costa Rican citizen, died shortly after being deported from the United States in a vegetative state. His family has initiated efforts to obtain answers from authorities regarding the circumstances of his health deterioration while in US detention.## Detention and DeportationGamboa entered the United States through the US-Mexico border in December 2024. He was subsequently detained by US authorities for unlawful re-entry, having resided in the country without documentation between 2002 and 2013. Initially held at the Webb County detention center in Laredo, Texas, he was later transferred to the Port Isabel detention center in Los Fresnos, Texas.In September 2025, after approximately ten months in detention, the 52-year-old was transported via air ambulance to San José, Costa Rica. He remained in a vegetative state upon arrival. Five weeks later, on October 26, Gamboa was pronounced dead at a hospital in Pérez Zeledón, his hometown.## Family's Concerns and AccountGreidy Mata, Gamboa's younger sister, reported that her brother appeared healthy during video calls until June 12, which marked their last conversation. Following this, she lost contact and sought assistance from various agencies, lawyers, and consulates to locate him. Mata described Gamboa's condition upon his return as "dirty, looked abandoned, with ulcers on his entire body, in a vegetative state," contrasting it with his healthy state prior to detention. She questioned the lack of information provided to the family about his health crisis.## Medical Records and Official Responses* Hospitalization: Medical records shared with the Guardian indicate Gamboa was transferred from the Port Isabel facility to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas, on June 23, due to an "altered mental status."* Medication and Diagnosis: A document from the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) noted that Gamboa had been prescribed antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. Relatives and friends stated that Gamboa had no prior history of mental illness before migrating to the US.* DHS Statement: Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated that medical professionals diagnosed Gamboa with "unspecified psychosis" while in custody and hospitalized him for care. She affirmed that ICE provides comprehensive medical care, including screenings and emergency access.* Medical Conditions: By July 7, medical documents from the hospital listed at least ten conditions, with sepsis identified as the primary diagnosis. Other conditions included rhabdomyolysis, protein malnutrition, and toxic encephalopathy.* Further Observations: A doctor's note from August 2 described Gamboa as immobile, non-responsive, with occasional blinking, mutism, and exhibiting "decerebrate posturing." The note also mentioned "tube placement." By August 7, nearly a month before his deportation, medical records showed he had received intravenous injections and multiple medications, and was assessed as catatonic.## Response from Costa Rican AuthoritiesCosta Rica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to provide an interview or answer questions regarding Gamboa's case, including whether consular officers visited him during his hospitalization in Texas. Omer Badilla, director of Costa Rica’s migration agency, confirmed his office was notified of Gamboa's deportation but did not receive details concerning his health.## Death CertificateGamboa's death certificate did not specify a cause of death, indicating that its determination could require several months.