Illegal alien from Venezuela passes away in Texas after lengthy hospital stay

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Fran Gregory Portillo-Zapata, a 53-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela, died Oct. 29, 2026, at North Central Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Portillo-Zapata was detained at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center and was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 30. He suffered from severe sepsis, acute pancreatitis, and end-stage kidney disease. The official cause of death remains pending further medical examination.

Fran Gregory Portillo-Zapata was encountered in June 2023 by U.S. Border Patrol and removed to Mexico. On July 12, 2023, Portillo-Zapata attempted to enter illegally again, and he was released on an order of recognizance and issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge from the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

On Aug. 30, 2026, ICE San Antonio conducted an enforcement action in San Antonio, Texas. ICE identified Fran Gregory Portillo-Zapata, 53, a Venezuelan illegal alien living in the United States. Following a vehicle stop and field interview, ICE determined that Portillo-Zapata was amenable to administrative immigration arrest while pending removal proceedings with EOIR and took him into custody without incident.

Consistent with ICE policy, Enforcement and Removal Operations San Antonio completed the required notifications to the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility through the Joint Intake Operations Center. ERO San Antonio notified Portillo-Zapata's next of kin and sent an email notification to the Venezuelan Embassy.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, non-governmental organization stakeholders, and the media upon reports of in-custody deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on its public website. Information is available in the ICE Newsroom and on the Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental, and mental-health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arriving at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.