(BEAVERTON, OREGON) — The death of longtime Beaverton resident Paulino Martin San Pedro weeks after his late-November deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement”>2025 deportation is drawing renewed scrutiny to how medical needs, family access, and emergency legal filings can collide in fast-moving immigration removals.
San Pedro, 53, lived in the United States for more than 30 years, according to local reporting. He was detained by federal agents in late November after being pulled over following work at a job site, his son, Eric Martin San Juan, told reporters. Eric said his father spent about three days in ICE custody, with transfers from Tacoma, Washington, to Arizona, before being deported to Mexico. San Pedro died in Mexico on February 16, 2026, after battling pneumonia for roughly a month, the family said.
Local outlets KGW News and KPTV FOX 12 reported the family’s account on February 21, 2026. Those reports said no official ICE response was provided.
Legally, the case underscores a recurring fault line in removal cases: once a person is placed in expedited timeframes for transfer and removal, families often have limited time to find counsel, obtain medical documentation, and pursue emergency relief that might pause removal.
1) Case overview and timeline
San Pedro was described as a handyman, a father of three, and a longtime Beaverton resident. His family said he had not lived in Mexico for more than three decades.
Key terms matter here:
- ICE custody generally refers to civil immigration detention under INA § 236 (pre-removal) or INA § 241 (post-removal order).
- A detention transfer is when ICE moves a person between facilities, sometimes across states.
- Removal (often called “deportation”) is the federal government’s act of sending a noncitizen out of the United States, typically under INA § 241.
According to Eric’s statements to local media, San Pedro was detained in late November 2025, transferred through Washington and Arizona, and removed to Mexico within days. He was later hospitalized in Mexico, and he died on February 16, 2026.
Some details, including the precise legal basis for removal and whether an immigration judge ordered removal, were not included in the reporting. Those details can be significant because procedural options differ depending on posture, deadlines, and the court involved.
Warning: Immigration timelines can move very quickly after an arrest or transfer. Families often have hours or days to locate the person and contact counsel.
Helpful starting points for basic process information include EOIR’s site on the Immigration Court system and ICE’s detainee locator.
2) Family perspective and impact
Eric Martin San Juan told reporters he believes the detention and sudden removal worsened his father’s health and cut him off from family support. He was quoted describing the emotional and practical fallout, including the loss of a parent and grandparent. He also said the family was trying to prevent the removal and pursue return options when San Pedro was deported.
In many removal contexts, “last-minute” legal efforts may include:
- Requests for a stay of removal to temporarily pause deportation while a motion or petition is considered (often under 8 C.F.R. § 241.6).
- Emergency motions at the immigration court or Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), if a case is still within EOIR.
- Federal court filings in limited situations, including emergency requests tied to a petition for review, where available jurisdictionally.
Whether any of these were filed in San Pedro’s case is not established by the reporting. Still, the family’s description reflects a common reality: it can be difficult to marshal medical records, declarations, and legal arguments when a detention transfer occurs and removal is imminent.
Deadline: If removal appears imminent, attorneys often advise requesting a stay immediately and confirming receipt in writing. Delays can be decisive.
3) Medical circumstances and aftermath
The family told local media that San Pedro was hospitalized soon after arriving in Mexico and fought pneumonia for about a month before his death on February 16, 2026.
When someone is removed to a country they have not lived in for decades, continuity of care can be disrupted. So can access to familiar clinicians, medications, and support networks. Family members may also have to coordinate care across borders while trying to obtain U.S. detention-related documentation.
After a death abroad following detention or removal, families typically try to collect and preserve records that may later be needed for benefits applications, oversight inquiries, or litigation. That may include:
- Hospital admission and discharge summaries in the receiving country
- A death certificate and any available cause-of-death documentation
- Proof of travel or removal dates and custody timelines
- Prior U.S. medical records that show baseline conditions
For U.S. government records, families often explore Freedom of Information Act requests. The Justice Department’s FOIA overview is one place to start, though processing times can be long.
4) Financial and logistical consequences for the family
Reporting said the family’s savings were depleted by medical and legal costs and that a fundraiser raised more than $50,000 toward a $70,000 goal. The stated purposes included funeral expenses and the possibility of bringing San Pedro’s body back to the United States.
In cross-border situations, costs often rise due to document procurement, translation, consular coordination, transportation arrangements, and compliance with airline and public-health requirements. Even when families act quickly, practical barriers can multiply after a removal because decision-makers and records may be spread across jurisdictions and institutions.
Warning: Families should keep copies of receipts, hospital invoices, and written communications. These documents may matter later for reimbursement claims, estate issues, or legal review.
5) Public response and coverage
KGW News and KPTV FOX 12 emphasized the family’s grief and criticism of federal enforcement decisions. Eric was quoted expressing anger and describing his father as central to the family’s stability. The reports also stated that no official ICE response was provided.
“No official response reported” does not necessarily mean no information exists. It typically means the agency did not provide a comment to the outlet by publication time, or it declined to comment. Families seeking answers often consider formal channels that keep requests factual and well-documented, including written records requests, agency complaint pathways, and inquiries routed through counsel.
6) Next steps and memorial plans
The family plans to hold a vigil in Beaverton within weeks, according to local reporting.
For families planning memorial events after a death following removal, practical steps often include confirming venue requirements, coordinating with community faith leaders, and designating a single point of contact for media inquiries. If repatriation of remains is being considered, families may also need cross-border documentation, including certified death records and consular paperwork, depending on the destination and service providers.
Those facing urgent detention, transfer, or removal situations typically benefit from consulting a qualified immigration attorney quickly, especially where medical vulnerability is documented and an emergency stay may be appropriate.
Resources (general information):
- EOIR: Immigration Court system
- DOJ: FOIA overview
- ICE: Detainee locator
- AILA Lawyer Referral
- Immigration Advocates Network
⚖️ Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration law and is not legal advice. Immigration cases are highly fact-specific, and laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice about your specific situation.
