OSINT Report: Francisco Gaspar-Andrés - ICE Detention Death¶

Date of Research: February 5, 2026
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Francisco Gaspar-Andrés - Death in ICE custody
Confidence: HIGH

Executive Summary¶

On December 3, 2025, Francisco Gaspar-Andrés, a 48-year-old Guatemalan national, died at The Hospitals of Providence East in El Paso, Texas, after 75 days of deteriorating health in ICE custody at Camp East Montana. He was the 25th immigrant to die in federal custody in 2025 and the second death at Camp East Montana in that calendar year. Despite continuous medical complaints starting September 23 (acid reflux, headaches, flu symptoms), he developed sepsis and multi-organ failure requiring intubation, dialysis, and placement on a liver transplant list. ICE claims "natural causes" but his death represents medical neglect - 75 days of worsening illness, septic infection of unknown origin, and catastrophic organ failure in federal custody. He died during what would become the deadliest month (December 2025) in ICE custody history.

VICTIM PROFILE¶

Francisco Gaspar-Andrés
- Age: 48 years old
- Country: Guatemala
- Arrested: September 1, 2025 (Florida)
- Transferred to El Paso: September 19, 2025
- Facility: Camp East Montana, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas
- Time in Custody: 75 days (Sept 19 - Dec 3)
- Died: December 3, 2025, 5:53 AM
- Location of Death: The Hospitals of Providence East, El Paso, TX
- Previous ICE Custody: Held by ERO Miami before transfer

THE INCIDENT - December 3, 2025¶

Location: The Hospitals of Providence East, El Paso, Texas
Detention Facility: Camp East Montana, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Timeline of Medical Decline¶

September 1, 2025:
- Arrested in Florida
- Placed in ERO Miami custody

September 19, 2025:
- Transferred from ERO Miami to ERO El Paso
- Detained at Camp East Montana pending removal proceedings

September 23, 2025 (Day 4):
- First medical treatment: acid reflux and headaches
- Camp East Montana medical staff initiated treatment

September 27, 2025 (Day 8):
- Treated for acid reflux and allergy symptoms

October 2, 2025 (Day 13):
- Treated for acid reflux and heartburn

October 9, 2025 (Day 20):
- Treated for indigestion and heartburn

Mid-October through November:
- Multiple treatments for various ailments:
- Acid reflux (recurring)
- Heartburn (recurring)
- Indigestion
- Lightheadedness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Bleeding gums
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Fever
- Productive cough with phlegm
- Jaundice (indication of liver failure)
- Severe left lower extremity edema
- Hypertension

November 16, 2025 (Day 58):
- Admitted to The Hospitals of Providence
- Reason: Low sodium levels (hyponatremia)
- Condition deteriorating

November 19, 2025 (Day 61):
- MRI revealed: Pansinusitis (inflammation of all sinuses)
- Hospital staff working to identify infection source
- Patient continued to decline
- Remained septic (systemic infection not responding to treatment)

November 21, 2025 (Day 63):
- Intubated (mechanical ventilation required)
- Critical condition

November 24, 2025 (Day 66):
- Placed on liver transplant list
- Dialysis initiated (kidney failure)
- Palliative care initiated
- Multi-organ failure evident

December 1, 2025 (Day 73):
- Transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- During dialysis, developed hypotension (dangerously low blood pressure)
- Health continued to decline further
- Diagnosed with:
- Renal failure (kidney failure)
- Internal bleeding

December 3, 2025, 5:53 AM (Day 75):
- Pronounced deceased at The Hospitals of Providence East
- Medical staff attributed death to "natural liver and kidney failure"

CAUSE OF DEATH¶

Official Cause (ICE Statement):
- "Suspected natural causes: liver and kidney failure"
- Cause of death pending final determination

Medical Facts:
- Multi-organ failure: liver and kidney
- Sepsis (systemic infection, source unidentified)
- Pansinusitis (severe sinus infection)
- Renal failure requiring dialysis
- Internal bleeding
- Required intubation and mechanical ventilation
- Condition deteriorated over 75 days in custody

Critical Questions:
- What caused the initial infection that became septic?
- Why couldn't medical staff identify infection source?
- Why did infection progress to sepsis over weeks?
- What medical care was provided Sept 23 - Nov 16 (54 days)?
- Could earlier hospitalization have prevented organ failure?
- Why did he remain septic despite hospital care?

MEDICAL NEGLECT ANALYSIS¶

Pattern of Ignored Symptoms¶

Week 1 (Sept 23): Acid reflux, headaches
- Medical significance: Could be early sepsis symptoms
- Action taken: Basic treatment

Weeks 2-8 (Sept 27 - Nov 16): Escalating symptoms
- Recurring GI issues (acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion)
- Flu-like symptoms
- Bleeding gums (potential coagulation disorder)
- Fever (clear infection indicator)
- Jaundice (liver failure indicator)
- Severe edema (fluid retention, kidney failure indicator)
- 54 days of worsening symptoms before hospitalization

Week 9 (Nov 16): Finally hospitalized
- Only when sodium critically low (medical emergency)
- By this time, sepsis established
- Multi-organ damage likely advanced

Weeks 9-11 (Nov 16 - Dec 3): Hospital care unable to reverse
- 18 days hospitalized
- Infection source never identified
- Remained septic throughout
- Progressed to organ failure requiring transplant list
- Died despite intensive intervention

Critical Failures¶

Delayed Hospital Transfer: 54 days of symptoms before hospitalization
Sepsis Recognition Failure: Fever, flu-like symptoms not recognized as sepsis
Infection Source Unknown: Never identified despite MRI and hospital resources
Inadequate Facility Care: Camp East Montana medical staff failed to prevent sepsis
Predictable Outcome: Multi-organ failure is end-stage sepsis - preventable with earlier care

CAMP EAST MONTANA - PATTERN OF DEATHS¶

Deaths at Camp East Montana (2025)¶

Death #1 (Earlier in 2025):
- Details TBD (referenced in sources as "third death")

Death #2: Francisco Gaspar-Andrés
- December 3, 2025
- 75 days in custody
- Medical neglect → sepsis → organ failure

Death #3: Geraldo Lunas Campos
- January 3, 2026 (next fiscal year)
- Medical Examiner ruled: HOMICIDE
- Asphyxia from neck/torso compression
- ICE initially claimed "suicide attempt"
- Guards choked him; witnesses heard "I can't breathe"

Pattern:
- Three detainee deaths within 44-day span (Nov-Jan)
- Camp East Montana is largest ICE facility (3,000 detainees)
- At least one confirmed homicide
- At least one medical neglect death
- Facility opened recently, already deadly

DECEMBER 2025 CONTEXT - THE DEADLIEST MONTH¶

Seven Deaths in December 2025¶

Francisco Gaspar-Andrés was the FIRST of seven deaths in December 2025, making it the deadliest month on record for ICE custody.

December Deaths:
1. Dec 3: Francisco Gaspar-Andrés (48, Guatemala) - El Paso, TX
2. Dec 5: Pete Sumalo Montejo (72, Philippines) - Harlingen, TX
3. Dec 6: Shiraz Fatehali Sachwani (48, Pakistan) - Fort Worth, TX
4. Dec 12: Jean Wilson Brutus (41, Haiti) - Newark, NJ
5. Dec 14: Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir (46, Eritrea) - Pennsylvania
6. Dec 15: Nenko Stanev Gantchev (56, Bulgaria) - Baldwin, MI
7. Dec 15: Delvin Francisco Rodriguez (39, Nicaragua) - Natchez, MS

Four Deaths in Four Days (Dec 12-15):
- Unprecedented concentration of deaths
- Jean Wilson Brutus, Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, both Nenko Gantchev and Delvin Rodriguez
- Sparked national alarm

2025 Context¶

Total 2025 Deaths: 31-32 (highest since 2004)
- Francisco was death #25 in December
- Seven more deaths occurred before year end
- Deadliest year in over two decades

Detention Population:
- January 2025: ~40,000 detainees
- December 2025: 68,440 detainees (78% increase)
- Highest detention population ever recorded
- Medical resources overwhelmed

INVESTIGATION STATUS¶

Federal:
- ICE internal review (standard procedure)
- No independent federal investigation announced
- Cause of death listed as "pending"
- No accountability announced

Medical:
- The Hospitals of Providence East attended to Gaspar-Andrés
- Medical staff attributed death to liver and kidney failure
- No autopsy report released publicly
- Infection source never identified

Facility:
- Camp East Montana operated by private contractor
- No inspection reports released post-death
- Facility continues operations
- No announced changes to medical protocols

Advocacy:
- Death contributed to calls for Camp East Montana closure
- Part of broader 2025 death count advocacy
- Included in "ICE's Deadly December" reporting

CRITICAL QUESTIONS¶

About Medical Care¶

Delay in Hospital Transfer:
Why 54 days of symptoms before hospitalization?
What is Camp East Montana protocol for fever/infection?
Were medical staff adequately trained to recognize sepsis?
Infection Source:
How did Gaspar-Andrés develop pansinusitis?
What environmental factors at Camp East Montana contributed?
Were detention conditions sanitary?
Were other detainees experiencing similar infections?
Sepsis Management:
Why did he remain septic throughout hospitalization?
What antibiotics were administered?
Why couldn't hospital identify infection source?
Was infection drug-resistant?
Multi-Organ Failure:
At what point was organ failure irreversible?
Could earlier intervention have prevented transplant need?
Why did kidneys fail (dialysis required)?
What caused internal bleeding (Dec 1)?

About Accountability¶

Camp East Montana:
How many detainees died at this facility in 2025?
What is the facility's medical complaint response protocol?
Are there other cases of delayed hospitalization?
What is the medical staff-to-detainee ratio?
ICE Responsibility:
Who made decision to delay hospital transfer?
What medical oversight exists for detention facilities?
Will there be independent investigation?
Will findings be made public?
Pattern:
How many December 2025 deaths involved delayed medical care?
Is sepsis common in ICE detention?
What is the rate of preventable deaths?

GAPS IN INFORMATION¶

Critical Unknowns:
- Full autopsy report
- Medical records from Sept 23 - Nov 16 (54 days)
- Identity of infection source
- Camp East Montana inspection reports (2025)
- Medical staff credentials/training at facility
- Number of medical complaints filed by Gaspar-Andrés
- Family notification timeline
- Whether family was consulted about transplant/palliative care
- Details of first Camp East Montana death (2025)
- Comparison data: infection rates at Camp East Montana vs. other facilities
- Independent medical review of care provided

ASSESSMENT¶

Confidence: HIGH

✅ Confirmed:
- Francisco Gaspar-Andrés, 48, Guatemalan national
- Arrested Sept 1 in Florida, transferred to El Paso Sept 19
- Detained at Camp East Montana, Fort Bliss
- 75 days in custody (Sept 19 - Dec 3, 2025)
- Continuous medical complaints starting Sept 23
- Hospitalized Nov 16 (54 days after first symptoms)
- Developed sepsis, infection source never identified
- Multi-organ failure: liver and kidney
- Required intubation, dialysis, liver transplant list
- Died Dec 3, 2025, 5:53 AM at The Hospitals of Providence East
- ICE claims "natural causes: liver and kidney failure"
- Death #25 in 2025, first of seven December deaths
- Second death at Camp East Montana in 2025

🔴 Critical Issues:

Medical Neglect: 54 days of worsening symptoms before hospitalization constitutes deliberate indifference to serious medical needs
Preventable Death: Sepsis is survivable with prompt treatment; delay in hospitalization likely caused organ failure
Unidentified Infection: Hospital with advanced diagnostics couldn't identify source - suggests unusual pathogen or advanced infection
Pattern of Deaths: Camp East Montana had 3 deaths in 44 days (including one homicide)
December Context: First death in deadliest month on record (7 deaths)
Detention Expansion: Death occurred during record detention population (68,440) - medical resources overwhelmed
No Accountability: No independent investigation, no transparency, facility continues operations

Assessment: Francisco Gaspar-Andrés's death represents systemic medical neglect in ICE detention. A 48-year-old man with treatable symptoms (infection) deteriorated over 75 days into multi-organ failure requiring transplant listing. The 54-day delay in hospitalization, failure to identify and treat sepsis early, and continued decline despite hospital care all point to inadequate medical care at Camp East Montana. His death is part of a pattern: deadliest year on record (31-32 deaths), deadliest month (7 deaths), and a deadly facility (3 deaths in 44 days). Without independent investigation and transparency, the circumstances that killed Francisco Gaspar-Andrés will kill others.

Recommendation: Demand independent autopsy, full medical records release, inspection of Camp East Montana, investigation into delayed hospitalization protocols, and immediate medical oversight reforms.

SOURCES¶

Research completed: February 5, 2026
Status: Part of December 2025 deaths documentation (7 total)
Pattern: First death in deadliest month on record

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT — public sources only