Costa Rica ICE Custody Death: Marchena Dies After 8 Months Held
COSTA RICA · NEWS
Key Facts
- —What happened Carlos Josué Marchena, a 37-year-old Costa Rican, died while held by US immigration authorities in Louisiana.
- —The context He was detained in Michigan in January 2026 and held about eight months before his death.
- —Why it matters These cases shape debate in San José about relations with Washington and affect how families view US detention.
- —The catch The family says he had diabetes and needed medicine, but the official cause of death is not known.
- —Who it affects Costa Rican families with relatives in US detention, and foreign residents in Costa Rica who must keep papers current.
- —What comes next ICE has not published a statement; the family awaits autopsy results, and consular follow-up is expected next week.
A Costa Rican man died after eight months in US immigration detention, while a well-known Costa Rican creator is held in Florida.
Costa Rica is mourning an ICE custody death in Louisiana. Carlos Josué Marchena, 37, died while held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), his family says.
What is known about the ICE custody death
Marchena grew up in Limón and lived in Guanacaste and San José before moving to the US. He worked there as a driver and was the father of two girls.
Police in Michigan detained him on 14 January 2026, and ICE took custody a day later. He then passed through centres in Michigan, California and Louisiana.
His sister, Franciny Araya Marchena, said he was held at Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana. Two outlets reported an Illinois facility, but his sister and most outlets named the Louisiana centre.
Costa Rica’s foreign ministry confirmed the death to the family on the morning of 18 September. Most outlets say he died that Friday, while some reported Thursday.
Outlets gave his age as 37 or 36. La Nación reported he was just over a month away from turning 38.
What the family says and what remains open
The family says Marchena had diabetes and needed regular medicine and meals. They say they were told he suffered a cardiac arrest.
His sister told La Nación that her concerns about his medical care are her own conclusions. She said she does not know the exact circumstances.
The family says it spent about US$15,000 on lawyers, but a bond request failed. They say he was expecting to be deported to Costa Rica within weeks.
Relatives are now raising money to bring his body home. They say they do not know whether ICE will cover the cost.
Why local media call it the second case
Teletica described Marchena as “another” Costa Rican to die after ICE detention. The earlier case was Randall Gamboa Esquivel, 52.
Gamboa was deported from ICE custody in critical condition in early September 2025. He died in Costa Rica in October 2025, at Escalante Pradilla Hospital in Pérez Zeledón.
The two cases differ, since Gamboa died after returning home. At the time, Costa Rica’s government said it would seek explanations from Washington.
On 7 October 2025, then-foreign minister Arnoldo André told lawmakers he was preparing a diplomatic note to the US State Department. He said the case had to be clarified.
The Julián Valverde detention
José Julián Valverde Meneses, 26, is a content creator from Desamparados known online as Julián Valjota. He has about 132,000 YouTube subscribers.
He was stopped while driving in Florida on Wednesday 16 September 2026. A Polk County Sheriff’s Office record shows him booked on 17 September.
The record lists a charge of driving with a license expired for more than six months. It also shows an ICE detainer, a request to hold him for immigration officers.
At a hearing on Friday 18 September, a judge set a US$250 bond on the traffic charge. The judge said he would stay in custody because of the ICE hold.
How Costa Rica’s foreign ministry responded
On 17 September, the ministry told Diario Extra that its Consular Department and the Miami consulate were aware of Valverde’s case. It said both were making inquiries with US immigration authorities.
On 18 September, the ministry said the consulate had officially confirmed his location and condition. It said Valverde reported that he was well and was in contact with the consul general.
In a letter shared by a friend, Valverde thanked supporters and said he was fine. Lawmaker Joselyn Sáenz of the Frente Amplio party asked the state to give him consular assistance.
Costa Rica is on the US list of countries whose nationals’ consulates must be notified after an arrest. That gives the consulate a formal channel in both cases.
Why this matters for expats and investors
Many Costa Rican families have relatives working in the US, and these cases are followed closely at home. They also shape public debate in San José about relations with Washington.
For foreign residents in Costa Rica, the lesson is practical. Keep licences, visas and residency papers current wherever you live or travel.
For investors, these cases are unlikely to change business conditions on their own. They may add to diplomatic pressure on consular issues between the two governments.
What is not known yet
ICE has not published a statement on Marchena’s death. Its policy is to post a news release within two business days of a detainee death.
The official cause of death and the autopsy results are not known. It is not known whether US authorities will open a review of his care.
For Valverde, no final deportation order has been reported. His exact immigration status and his next hearing date have not been made public.
It is also unclear whether ICE has formally taken Valverde into its own custody or whether he remains in the county jail.
Both families are waiting for more official information, and consular follow-up is expected to continue next week.
More: Costa Rica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Carlos Josué Marchena?
A 37-year-old Costa Rican driver held by ICE since January 2026. He died in Louisiana, according to his family.
Has ICE explained the death?
Not yet. ICE usually posts a news release within two business days, and the family is waiting for an autopsy.
Is Julián Valverde being deported?
No final deportation order has been reported. He is held on an ICE detainer after a traffic arrest in Florida.
Connected Coverage
United States Third-Country Deportation Ruling Upheld in Boston
Sources: Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship statements, 17–18 September 2026; Polk County Sheriff’s Office record; US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; US Department of State; La Nación; Teletica; CR Hoy; La Teja; Diario Extra; Infobae.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief