Oregon Father Dies of Pneumonia After ICE Detention and Deportation, Family Says

Eric Martin San Juan blames ICE for his father Paulino Martin San Pedro's death, saying he 'threw my dad out like an animal'

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A family in Beaverton, Oregon is mourning the death of their 53-year-old father, Paulino Martin San Pedro, who died of pneumonia after being detained and deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in November 2025. His son, Eric Martin San Juan, says ICE's actions led to his father's death, as he was deported to Mexico where he hadn't been in over 30 years and did not have his family's support system. The family has launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and is choosing to celebrate Paulino's life despite their heartbreak.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the impacts of ICE detention and deportation policies on immigrant families, as well as questions about the agency's treatment of detainees and the medical care provided. The family's grief and financial hardship also underscore the broader human toll of these enforcement actions.

The details

According to reports, ICE detained Paulino Martin San Pedro in Oregon in November 2025 and deported him to Mexico, where he died of pneumonia on February 16, 2026. His son Eric Martin San Juan believes his father would have had a better chance of survival if he had been able to stay in the U.S. with his family's support system. The family tried unsuccessfully to get Paulino returned to Oregon before his death.

  • ICE detained Paulino Martin San Pedro in Oregon in November 2025.
  • Paulino Martin San Pedro died of pneumonia on February 16, 2026.

The players

Paulino Martin San Pedro

A 53-year-old Oregon resident who died of pneumonia after being detained and deported by ICE.

Eric Martin San Juan

The son of Paulino Martin San Pedro who is mourning his father's death and blaming ICE for the outcome.

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency that detained and deported Paulino Martin San Pedro.

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What they’re saying

“I thoroughly blame ICE. I blame our government because there is a better way to do all of this besides shipping people away.”

— Eric Martin San Juan, Son of Paulino Martin San Pedro (KPTV)

“The day my dad was taken, I felt like my dad had died, that's how extreme it felt. ICE threw my dad out like an animal, and now I have no dad.”

— Eric Martin San Juan, Son of Paulino Martin San Pedro (KPTV)

“No one deserves this, no one deserves to be tortured, no one deserves to be taken away from their families, not knowing you'll ever see them again, and then truly never seeing them again.”

— Eric Martin San Juan, Son of Paulino Martin San Pedro (KPTV)

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the human toll of aggressive immigration enforcement policies, as well as the need for reforms to ensure humane treatment and adequate medical care for detainees. The family's grief and financial hardship highlight the broader impacts on immigrant communities when loved ones are suddenly taken away.