Beaverton Family Devastated by Father's Death After ICE Deportation to Mexico
A Beaverton, Oregon family is grappling with profound grief and loss following the death of 53-year-old Paulino Martin San Pedro, who succumbed to pneumonia in Mexico after being detained and deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to local media reports and heartfelt statements from his family, San Pedro's sudden removal from the United States, where he had lived for more than three decades, left him isolated and without his crucial support system, ultimately contributing to his tragic demise.
Sudden Detention and Deportation Lead to Family's Anguish
Eric Martin San Juan, the grieving son of Paulino Martin San Pedro, recounted that his father was detained in Oregon in November and deported to Mexico within days. San Pedro had not resided in Mexico for over 30 years, making his return to an unfamiliar environment particularly jarring. Shortly after arriving, he was hospitalized and later died on February 16 due to complications from pneumonia. San Juan firmly believes that the stress and disruption caused by the detention and abrupt deportation severely worsened his father's health condition.
"I think if we fought it here, he would have had a better chance," San Juan told local media. "He would have been with his family, with the people who cared for him, instead of being sent somewhere unfamiliar after three decades." The family was actively pursuing legal avenues to prevent his removal and secure his return home when the deportation occurred, leaving them feeling helpless and devastated.
Emotional and Financial Struggles in the Wake of Loss
The deportation has plunged the family into deep emotional and financial turmoil. San Juan expressed the profound impact of his father's absence, stating, "The day my dad was taken, it felt like he had already died. They threw my dad out like an animal, and now I have no dad." During San Pedro's hospitalization in Mexico, relatives faced escalating medical and legal expenses, adding to their burdens.
The loss has reverberated across multiple generations, with San Juan highlighting the void left in their lives. "My sister doesn't have anyone to walk her down the aisle. My children won't have their grandfather. We've lost the backbone of our family," he lamented. Family members traveled to Mexico earlier this month to bid their final goodbyes and are now organizing a vigil in Beaverton to honor San Pedro's life and legacy.
Community Support and Fundraising Efforts
In response to the tragedy, a fundraiser was launched to assist with funeral and related costs, describing San Pedro as "a man who did everything for his family" and who "loved deeply and showed up for everyone without hesitation." The campaign has successfully raised more than $50,000 of its $70,000 goal, demonstrating significant community solidarity and compassion.
Carrying Forward a Father's Legacy
Despite the overwhelming sorrow, San Juan finds strength in his father's enduring influence. "He built me into who I am today," he reflected. "He always figured things out, and I know I'll carry that strength forward." The family aims to focus on celebrating San Pedro's life while coping with what they describe as an irreversible loss caused by deportation and separation, hoping to raise awareness about the human costs of immigration policies.
