Daughter of man who died in ICE custody at local hospital speaks out

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - The family of a 68-year-old undocumented migrant who died at a local hospital while under ICE custody is speaking out to News Channel 3.

"My soul was destroyed because I really hoped that my father would leave that place, but not in this way," said Josselyn Yanez, the daughter of Luis Beltrán Yanez-Cruz.

Yanez-Cruz, an undocumented migrant from Honduras, died on Jan. 6 after being admitted to JFK Memorial for heart-related health issues.

Family says he was funny, hardworking, and most of all a loving grandfather. But now they're left asking what if following his sudden death in ICE custody.

"They told me my father had died, and well, I didn't know what to say at that point. I said, How? I just spoke with him on Saturday," Yanez said.

According to ICE, Yanez-Cruz was taken into custody on November 16 during an operation in Newark, New Jersey.  ICE claims he illegally entered the country before 1993 and then again between 1999 and 2012. He was being held pending removal proceedings.

At the time of his arrest, his family says he had temporary protected status that he was working to renew and that he only entered the US once. 

"He had a court hearing on January 8th, and we thought that he would be released on bail, and unfortunately it wasn't like that," Yanez said. 

Yanez said her father's symptoms began shortly after he was detained and transferred to a Calexico detention center where he complained of stomach pains. She says ICE gave him pills, but it persisted with shortness of breath and exhaustion. News Channel 3's Athena Jreij asked how they knew he had these symptoms.

She says they spoke on the phone nearly every day. Despite the pain, Yanez-Cruz didn't receive care at a hospital until days before his death on January 4.

According to ICE, Yanez-Cruz was transferred to the medical unit at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility and then transported to El Regional Medical Center on January 4. Yanez was then medically evacuated by helicopter to JFK Memorial for a higher level of care, where he was pronounced dead despite medical intervention.

While ICE claims detainees received comprehensive care and health assessments, Yanez says her father's death has left her with more questions than answers. 

What are some of the lingering questions that you maybe still have? Athena asked Yanez.

Yanez answered, "I would like to ask them why he didn't have heart problems, and also when he asked for medical assistance, they didn't give it to him. Why didn't they give himt hat medical assistance that he asked for?"

Yanez is one of 4 to die this year in ICE custody, following 32 deaths in 2025

"How does it feel knowing that his final moments of his life were spent in a hospital in a place that he wasn't familiar with rather than spending that with his family?" Athena asked Yanez.

"I feel devastated because my father didn't deserve to die. Remember that they are human beings and that they also have a family," Yanez answered.

We did reach out to ICE with additional questions if Giannis was provided a higher level of care sooner. They have not responded to our request. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up by loved ones to repatriate Yanez-Cruz's body to Honduras. Click here if you would like to donate.