EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 A Guatemalan man in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody died from suspected natural causes at The Hospitals of Providence East in El Paso. <\/p>\n
Francisco Gaspar-Andres, 48, was pronounced dead at 5:53 a.m. on Dec. 3. <\/p>\n
Medical professionals attributed his death to liver and kidney failure, although the official cause is pending, federal officials said. <\/p>\n
Gaspar-Andres entered the United States illegally by crossing the international boundary from Mexico at a non-designated port of entry. <\/p>\n
He was arrested on Sept. 1 by Florida Highway Patrol troopers in collaboration with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Miami. <\/p>\n
After being processed at the Krome South Processing Center in Miami, he was transferred to ERO El Paso on Sept. 19 and detained at the Camp East Montana detention facility pending removal proceedings.<\/p>\n
Throughout his detention, Gaspar-Andres received medical treatment for various ailments, including acid reflux, headaches, and flu-like symptoms, ICE officials said. <\/p>\n
On Nov. 14, an immigration judge ordered his removal to Guatemala. <\/p>\n
However, his health deteriorated, leading to his admission to The Hospitals of Providence on Nov. 16 due to low sodium levels. <\/p>\n
He was later diagnosed with hyponatremia and pansinusitis, and his condition continued to decline despite receiving antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and dialysis, according to ICE. <\/p>\n
Gaspar-Andres was placed on a liver transplant list and received palliative care. <\/p>\n
Despite efforts by medical staff, his health worsened, resulting in renal failure and internal bleeding. <\/p>\n
He was placed on supplemental oxygen for comfort before being pronounced dead. <\/p>\n
El Paso Congresswoman provided the following statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier today, my office was notified by a local stakeholder about the recent death of a detainee at Camp East Montana. ICE did not notify Congress directly until nearly a week after the death and hours after our office inquired with relevant Congressional committees earlier today. Despite claims from DHS about the inhumane, abhorrent conditions at facilities like Camp East Montana being \u2018categorically false,\u2019 my own visits and discussions with detainees prove otherwise. Never before has an administration so carelessly made a mockery of the rule of law while hypocritically championing values like law and order. From their denial of true oversight visits to the cruel treatment of detainees at this facility, it is abundantly clear Camp East Montana is not being effectively or humanely operated.”<\/p>\n
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