January 9, 2026Indio, CA, United StatesDetainee Death Notifications Luis Beltran Yanez–Cruz, a 68-year-old illegal alien from Honduras in ICE custody, passed away Jan. 6 at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio after being admitted for heart-related health issues.Yanez, an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States, was pronounced deceased at 1:18 a.m. PT by a physician.On Jan. 4, staff at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico transferred Yanez to the medical unit for evaluation of chest pain. Yanez was transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center and later transferred by helicopter to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital for a higher level of care. Despite medical intervention, Yanez was pronounced deceased in the early morning hours of Jan. 6.Yanez entered the United States without inspection, admission or parole by an immigration officer. U.S. Border Patrol arrested him near Eagle Pass, Texas, in June 1993 for illegal entry, and he was subsequently removed from the United States. At an unknown date, Yanez reentered the country without authorization. Between 1999 and 2012, he submitted multiple applications for temporary protected status, all of which were denied.On Nov. 16, 2025, ICE encountered and arrested Yanez during a targeted enforcement operation in Newark, New Jersey. Officials served him a notice to appear charging removability and transferred him to ICE custody. At the time of his death, Yanez was in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.Consistent with ICE policy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Professional Responsibility was notified via the Joint Intake Center. ICE also provided telephonic notification of Yanez’s death to the Honduran Consulate in Los Angeles.ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE’s public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov’s Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov’s Detainee Death Reporting page.ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergency care.