Monday, January 12, 2026- The heart‑wrenching case of Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52‑year‑old Costa Rican deported from the United States in a vegetative state, has ignited urgent calls for accountability and transparency from U.S. immigration authorities. Gamboa crossed into the U.S. in December 2024 seeking work and was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for unlawful re‑entry.
Nearly 10 months later, in September 2025, he was flown back to Costa Rica via air ambulance unable to move, speak, or respond, and died five weeks after his return. His family says he was healthy before detention and that the dramatic decline during his time in U.S. custody remains unexplained.
Relatives and friends express deep shock and frustration at the lack of communication from ICE and from U.S. consular officials. Gamboa’s sister, Greidy Mata, recounts that he appeared robust and in regular contact with the family until mid‑June 2025, when communication abruptly stopped.
Weeks later, they learned through a lawyer not authorities that he was in critical condition and hospitalized in Texas with severe medical issues including sepsis and rhabdomyolysis. Costa Rican officials were reportedly informed only of his deportation, not the severity of his medical state.
U.S. officials maintain Gamboa received routine medical care while in custody, but family members dispute this and are demanding detailed records and explanations. The case has sparked broader concern about the treatment of detainees under an intensified immigration enforcement regime, especially amid historically high detention numbers and multiple deaths in ICE custody reported in 2025.
Gamboa’s family is now pursuing answers and considering legal avenues including potential complaints to international human rights bodies as they seek closure and accountability.
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