ICE Brutality / Individual record
Roxsana Hernández
Roxsana Hernández, a transgender asylum seeker, died after being detained in US immigration custody.
- Record ID
- IB-002
- Date of death
- May 25, 2018
- Outcome
- Fatal
- Location
- Immigration detention / transfer · New Mexico
- Facility / incident site
- Immigration detention / transfer
- Category
- Death following ICE custody
- Nationality
- Honduras
What happened
Roxsana Hernández, a transgender woman seeking asylum from Honduras, died on May 25, 2018 after being held in U.S. immigration custody. Advocates raised concerns about her worsening health, delayed or inadequate medical attention, and mistreatment of transgender detainees. Family representatives and advocates disputed official accounts of the circumstances surrounding her death.
Investigation & findings
The death and concerns about detention conditions are documented. Claims about its cause and possible custodial negligence should be attributed to the relevant medical examiner, civil litigation, and independent investigations rather than presented as uncontested judicial findings.
Last reviewed: October 25, 2026
Sources & records
- Primary source
- Additional source
- Deaths and Health Care Issues in ICE Detention CentersKFF · 2026 · Research analysis
- Mortality in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement DetentionJAMA · 2026 · Peer reviewed analysis