ICE deported man who returned in a vegetative state

A man from Costa Rica who was detained by ICE was hospitalized in June with an altered mental status and was later deported to Costa Rica in a reported vegetative state; DHS says he was diagnosed with unspecified psychosis and hospitalized while in custody.

A Costa Rican man who crossed into the United States in late 2024 was held by ICE and later returned to his home country in a severely impaired condition, according to his family. The case has drawn attention because relatives say his health declined rapidly while in U.S. custody, and officials provided a different account of his medical care. Key facts: - The man left Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica, in December 2024 and was detained for unlawful entry, first at Webb County Detention Center and then at Port Isabel Detention Center in Texas. - Medical records show he was transferred to Valley Baptist Medical Center on June 23 with an "altered mental status," and later records list multiple diagnoses including sepsis. - DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told reporters that professionals diagnosed him with unspecified psychosis and hospitalized him so he could receive medical and mental health care while in custody. - The family says he was deported to Costa Rica in September in a vegetative state after removal proceedings continued. Summary: The family reports the man returned to Costa Rica unable to respond or move after months in U.S. custody, while DHS states he was diagnosed and hospitalized during that time. Removal proceedings continued and led to his deportation in September. The family's questions about the timeline of his care and condition remain. Undetermined at this time.