In December 2024, Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a Costa Rican man, was detained by US authorities after crossing the border and was held at detention centers in Texas. After nearly 10 months, in September 2025, he was deported to Costa Rica in a vegetative state and died shortly after. Medical records show Gamboa was hospitalized with “altered mental status” and a series of other conditions, including sepsis and rhabdomyolysis, while in custody. Gamboa’s family is now seeking answers about his health deterioration while under US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) custody, as well as the cause of his death, as they question why he was not given proper care.
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Former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oscar Arias Sánchez announced the revocation of his US visa. While no official explanation was given, Arias speculated the decision might be linked to his 2007 establishment of diplomatic relations with China. This action occurred during his presidency (2006-2010) and contrasts with the current US administration’s stance against Chinese influence in the region. Arias’s prior public criticism of President Trump may also be a contributing factor. The revocation follows a similar action against three Costa Rican legislators who opposed the current president’s anti-China policies.
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Family Seeks Answers After ICE Deports Man in Vegetative State to Costa Rica
In December 2024, Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a Costa Rican man, was detained by US authorities after crossing the border and was held at detention centers in Texas. After nearly 10 months, in September 2025, he was deported to Costa Rica in a vegetative state and died shortly after. Medical records show Gamboa was hospitalized with “altered mental status” and a series of other conditions, including sepsis and rhabdomyolysis, while in custody. Gamboa’s family is now seeking answers about his health deterioration while under US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) custody, as well as the cause of his death, as they question why he was not given proper care.
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Nobel Laureate’s US Visa Revoked After Trump Criticism
Former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oscar Arias Sánchez announced the revocation of his US visa. While no official explanation was given, Arias speculated the decision might be linked to his 2007 establishment of diplomatic relations with China. This action occurred during his presidency (2006-2010) and contrasts with the current US administration’s stance against Chinese influence in the region. Arias’s prior public criticism of President Trump may also be a contributing factor. The revocation follows a similar action against three Costa Rican legislators who opposed the current president’s anti-China policies.
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