Venezuelan Man Dies in ICE Custody in San Antonio
You are in ICE detention, and your health is getting worse. For Fran Gregory Portillo-Zapata, a 53-year-old Venezuelan man held at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Texas, that situation turned fatal. He died on Oct. 29, 2026, at North Central Baptist Hospital in San Antonio — one month after being admitted — raising urgent questions about medical care inside immigration detention.
Portillo-Zapata had been in ICE custody since Aug. 30, 2026, when ICE San Antonio agents stopped his vehicle, conducted a field interview, and determined he was subject to administrative arrest while his removal case was pending before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR — the immigration court system). He was taken to the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center. On Sept. 30, his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to North Central Baptist Hospital. He suffered from severe sepsis, acute pancreatitis, and end-stage kidney disease. The official cause of death is still pending further medical examination.
How He Got Here
Portillo-Zapata first crossed into the US in June 2023. U.S. Border Patrol encountered him and removed him to Mexico. On July 12, 2023, he tried to enter again. At that point, authorities released him on an order of recognizance — a promise to appear — and gave him a notice to appear before an immigration judge. He lived in San Antonio for over three years before ICE arrested him in August 2026.
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ICE says it followed standard notification procedures after his death. The agency reported the death to the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. ICE also notified Portillo-Zapata's next of kin and the Venezuelan Embassy. ICE policy requires these notifications any time someone dies in its custody, and the agency posts details publicly on its Detainee Death Reporting page.
ICE states that all detainees receive medical, dental, and mental-health screenings within 12 hours of arrival at a facility, a full health assessment within 14 days, and 24-hour emergency care throughout their detention. Whether those standards were met in Portillo-Zapata's case has not been publicly addressed. His death is the latest in a series of in-custody deaths that immigrant rights groups say reflect systemic problems with medical care in detention facilities.
What to Do If You or a Loved One Is in ICE Detention
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately. People in removal proceedings have the right to hire an attorney at their own expense. A lawyer can file motions, request bond hearings, and monitor medical care.
- If a detained person's health is declining, family members can contact the detention facility directly and request a medical status update. You can also contact the ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) field office that covers the facility.
- File a complaint with the ICE Office of Inspector General (OIG) if you believe medical care is being denied or delayed. The OIG investigates complaints about conditions in ICE custody.
- Reach out to local immigrant rights organizations. Groups in Texas such as RAICES and the ACLU of Texas have experience monitoring conditions at Karnes County and other South Texas facilities.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Your Rights During an ICE Encounter”.
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When a detained person has a serious pre-existing condition like kidney disease or pancreatitis, their attorney should immediately request a medical records review and consider filing a motion for release on humanitarian grounds or a bond reduction hearing. Under ICE's own detention standards, detainees must receive a full health assessment within 14 days of arrival — if that didn't happen, it can form the basis of a complaint or legal action. If you have a family member in detention with a serious illness, consult an immigration attorney right away; waiting can cost critical time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE detain someone who already has a pending immigration court case?
Yes. ICE can arrest and detain someone who is in removal proceedings — meaning their case is still being decided by an immigration judge. Having a notice to appear or a pending court date does not prevent ICE from taking you into custody.
What medical care are ICE detainees entitled to?
ICE policy requires that all detainees receive medical, dental, and mental-health screenings within 12 hours of arriving at a facility, a full health assessment within 14 days, and access to 24-hour emergency care. If you believe these standards are not being met, you or your attorney can file a complaint with the ICE Office of Inspector General.
What happens when someone dies in ICE custody?
ICE is required to notify the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, the detainee's next of kin, and the detainee's home country embassy. ICE also posts a public notice on its Detainee Death Reporting page.
Can a detainee be released if they have a serious illness?
Possibly. An immigration attorney can file a motion asking the immigration judge to release the person on bond or on humanitarian grounds, citing their medical condition. There is no guarantee of release, but courts do consider serious health issues when deciding whether continued detention is appropriate.