EL PASO, Texas — A 48-year-old Guatemalan detainee in ICE custody died at The Hospitals of Providence East on Dec. 3, according to a press release from ICE. Francisco Gaspar-Andres was admitted to the hospital on Nov. 16, with medical staff attributing his death to natural liver and kidney failure.
Gaspar-Andres, who entered the United States illegally by crossing the international boundary from Mexico, was arrested on Sept. 1 by Florida Highway Patrol troopers working with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Miami. He was processed at the Krome South Processing Center in Miami and later transferred to ERO El Paso, where he was detained at the Camp East Montana detention facility pending removal proceedings.
Throughout his detention, Gaspar-Andres received medical treatment for various ailments, including acid reflux, headaches, and allergy symptoms. On Nov. 14, an immigration judge ordered his removal to Guatemala. Despite ongoing medical care, his condition worsened, leading to his hospitalization on Nov. 16 due to low sodium levels.
Hospital staff diagnosed Gaspar-Andres with hyponatremia and pansinusitis, and he was placed on a liver transplant list and dialysis. His health continued to decline, and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on Dec. 1. He was pronounced dead on Dec. 3, after being diagnosed with renal failure and internal bleeding, according to the press release.