A Beaverton family says 53-year-old Paulino Martin San Pedro died of pneumonia after being detained by ICE in Oregon in November and deported to Mexico, where he had not been in more than 30 years. His son, Eric Martin San Juan, blames ICE and says staying in the U.S. could have given his father a better chance with family and medical support. The family traveled to Mexico to say goodbye and has launched a GoFundMe that raised over $50,000 toward a $70,000 goal as of Feb. 22. They plan a home vigil and are seeking help to cover funeral and living expenses.
Oregon Father, 53, Dies of Pneumonia After ICE Detention and Deportation, Family Says
Paulino Martin San PedroGoFundMe
A Beaverton family is mourning after 53-year-old Paulino Martin San Pedro died of pneumonia following his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deportation to Mexico, his son says.
According to local outlets KPTV and KGW-TV, Martin San Pedro was taken into ICE custody in Oregon in November and returned to Mexico — a country he had not visited in more than 30 years. His son, Eric Martin San Juan, says his father later fell ill and died of pneumonia on Monday, Feb. 16.
PEOPLE contacted an ICE spokesperson on Feb. 22 but did not receive an immediate response.
Family Says Deportation Hampered Care
Martin San Juan told KPTV that he blames ICE for his father’s death and believes the outcome might have been different if his father had remained in the United States and had access to family support and medical care.
"I thoroughly blame ICE. I blame our government because there is a better way to do all of this besides shipping people away," Martin San Juan said. "The day my dad was taken, I felt like my dad had died, that’s how extreme it felt. They threw my dad out like an animal, and now I have no dad."
He said he fought to bring his father back to Beaverton after the November detention but was unsuccessful.
Paulino Martin San PedroGoFundMe
Family Response And Fundraiser
In February, Martin San Juan and other family members traveled to Mexico to say goodbye. The family plans to hold a vigil at their home in Beaverton. They launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and help the household cope financially; as of Feb. 22 the page had raised more than $50,000 toward a $70,000 goal. The fundraiser describes Martin San Pedro as "the backbone of our family" who "showed up for everyone, gave without hesitation, and loved deeply."
Martin San Juan described the wider impact of his father's removal: a 20-year-old daughter who lost her father while attending school, sons who wanted more time with their dad, children who will never meet a grandfather, and a sister who lost the person who would have walked her down the aisle.
What’s Next
The family is focusing on honoring Paulino Martin San Pedro's life and legacy while seeking support to cover funeral and living expenses. The GoFundMe remains active as the family navigates this loss.
Local reports: KPTV, KGW-TV. PEOPLE sought comment from ICE but received no immediate response.
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