Francisco Gaspar-Andres, a 48-year-old Guatemalan national who was in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), died on December 3 at The Hospitals of Providence East in El Paso, Texas. Medical staff pronounced him dead at 5:53 a.m., with the cause of death attributed to suspected natural causes, specifically liver and kidney failure, though an official determination is pending.
According to ICE, Gaspar-Andres entered the United States illegally by crossing from Mexico at a location not designated as a port of entry. He was arrested on September 1 by Florida Highway Patrol troopers working alongside ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Miami during a pre-planned enforcement action. ERO officers confirmed his undocumented status, took him into custody, and processed him at the Krome South Processing Center in Miami.
On September 4, Gaspar-Andres was admitted to West Kendall Hospital in Miami for medical treatment related to alcohol withdrawal. After being released on September 7, he returned to Krome South Processing Center. Later that month, ERO Miami transferred him to ERO El Paso, where he was detained at Camp East Montana pending removal proceedings.
Throughout his detention, contract medical staff treated Gaspar-Andres for various health issues including acid reflux, headaches, allergy symptoms, heartburn, indigestion, lightheadedness, flu-like symptoms, bleeding gums, sore throat, body aches, fever, productive cough with phlegm, jaundice, severe lower extremity edema and hypertension.
An immigration judge ordered his removal to Guatemala on November 14. In the following days at Camp East Montana and later at The Hospitals of Providence East—where he was admitted on November 16 due to low sodium levels—medical professionals continued treatment as his condition worsened. He was diagnosed with hyponatremia and pansinusitis and eventually placed on dialysis and palliative care after being listed for a liver transplant.
Gaspar-Andres’s health continued to decline; he received dialysis until December 1 before being moved to intensive care due to complications during treatment. Despite further interventions including supplemental oxygen for comfort measures and ongoing medical attention by hospital staff and ICE personnel described as “constant [and] high-quality care,” Gaspar-Andres died two days later.
“From the moment they were notified of his health crisis, ICE medical staff ensured he had constant, high-quality care,” according to ICE officials.
