Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica – The family of Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a Costa Rican man who returned from the United States in a state of unresponsiveness, is demanding clarity from authorities about the circumstances leading to his tragic condition while in U.S. detention. Gamboa left Costa Rica healthy in December 2024, but was later detained for unlawfully re-entering the U.S., where he had previously lived without documentation for over a decade.

After nearly ten months in detention, Gamboa was transferred from facilities in Texas to a hospital following a significant health crisis. By the time he was deported to Costa Rica, he was in a vegetative state and passed away five weeks later in his hometown of Pérez Zeledón. His family is now grappling with both grief and unanswered questions regarding his sudden health decline during his time in custody.

Greidy Mata, Gamboa’s younger sister, vividly recalls their last interaction via video call on June 12. She described him as looking well, but weeks later, she discovered he had suffered a significant health emergency. “My brother disappeared, and we had to reach out to agencies, lawyers, consulates—anyone willing to help,” Mata shared, standing near the hospital where he succumbed to his conditions on October 26.

Medical records paint a troubling picture of Gamboa’s decline, showing he was diagnosed with multiple serious health issues shortly after being taken into custody. He was found to be suffering from sepsis, rhabdomyolysis, and malnutrition, with records indicating he had been receiving treatment for an altered mental state. Despite his family’s assertions that he had no prior mental health issues, authorities stated he was diagnosed with unspecified psychosis.

Tricia McLaughlin, an official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, outlined that medical care for detainees includes routine health screenings and access to emergency care. However, Gamboa’s family remains skeptical about the quality of care he received, pointing out disparities between his condition upon return and his state when he left Costa Rica.

By early July, Gamboa had been prescribed numerous medications and was described as catatonic. Medical documents indicate that, upon evaluation, he showed signs of severe decline, with a doctor noting his immobility and lack of response. Mata couldn’t fathom how the man who had departed their home just months earlier could return in such dire straits. “How is it possible that someone who left healthy came back looking abandoned?” she questioned, expressing her anguish over the lack of communication during her brother’s hospitalization.

Adding to the family’s distress is the lack of contact and information from Costa Rican authorities, who did not visit Gamboa during his hospitalization in the U.S. The director of the Costa Rican migration agency stated that while they were informed of his deportation, they received no updates on his health status.

Mata reflects on the hope that flickered when Gamboa returned to Costa Rica, a glimmer quickly extinguished by the harsh reality of his condition. “It was nice to touch him again, but soon we realized that the injuries were irreversible,” she said, echoing the profound sorrow that has clouded her family’s holiday season.

As the family continues to seek answers, they are left with the haunting question of what exactly transpired during Gamboa’s time in U.S. custody. The uncertainty surrounding his treatment and health outcomes poses a pressing challenge for officials on both sides of the border, as the family compels authorities to provide comprehensive answers about how a healthy man could suffer such tragic consequences in detention.