Samuel Gonzalez Terrones, a 21-year-old US citizen receiving treatment for depression and schizophrenia, died by suicide two months after immigration agents detained his mother and main caregiver. His family said his mental health deteriorated during her detention, and a letter written before his death addressed the ICE agent who took her into custody.
Samuel was diagnosed in May and had begun seeing a therapist and taking medication before his mother, Minerva Terrones Dominguez, was detained in June, according to a West Coast newspaper. His sister said his mental health difficulties had begun years earlier and that Minerva had supported him during periods of severe distress.
Letter Addressed ICE Agent
Samuel died by suicide in San Bernardino on 12 August, according to the San Bernardino County coroner. An excerpt of a letter written before his death was shared with a California publication.
The letter referred to his mother's detention and described it as the point when he felt he had reached 'one last wall'. It included the words: 'To the ICE agent who took away my mother: I hope it was worth it.'
He also wrote: 'I can't handle anymore injustices in this world.' His family described the separation as deeply distressing, although the circumstances surrounding suicide are complex and cannot be reduced to a single event.
Why His Mother Was Detained
Minerva, 54, had lived in the US for 33 years and, according to her lawyer, had never been arrested or convicted of a crime or previously placed in removal proceedings. She was detained after getting off a bus in San Bernardino while travelling to a grocery shop.
According to a federal court petition cited by a major LA-based newspaper, immigration agents told Minerva she 'looked like someone' they were seeking. She was taken into custody and transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.
Samuel's siblings and father began working additional hours to help pay for legal representation. His sister, Sari Gonzalez, said Minerva had been the family member who stayed with Samuel during his worst periods while other relatives were at work or school.
ICE did not respond to requests for comment. The account of Minerva's arrest and her previous immigration history comes from her lawyer and the court petition cited by the newspaper.
Judge Ordered Her Release
Minerva's lawyers were preparing an application for cancellation of removal, a form of immigration relief for which they intended to argue that deporting her would cause severe hardship to her US-citizen son. Samuel died before they could submit the application.
After his death, her lawyer requested her release on humanitarian grounds. Three days after the family informed Minerva that Samuel had died, a federal judge ordered her release on 31 August.
Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff, who was unaware of Samuel's death, found that Minerva had been held illegally 'based solely on DHS's mistake'. The judge also said she had been arrested without a warrant and that an immigration judge had not determined whether she posed a flight risk or danger to the public.
Minerva remains in deportation proceedings despite the ruling on her detention. Her lawyer said Samuel's death meant she no longer qualified for the legal pathway they had been preparing around his circumstances.
Mother Describes Her Loss
Minerva blamed her detention for the loss of her son and said she still found it difficult to discuss his death. 'If they hadn't grabbed me, my son would be here with me,' she said in an interview aired by Telemundo, according to the English translation supplied for this article.
'I love my boy, and I have always loved him and cared for him so very much, more than words can say,' she added, in the supplied translation. Her remarks reflect her account of the loss, rather than an official finding about the circumstances of Samuel's death.
The case has since drawn attention to the consequences of immigration detention for families, particularly where relatives are already dealing with serious mental-health difficulties.
If you are struggling with distress or thoughts of suicide, Samaritans can be reached on 116 123 in the UK. In the US, call or text 988 to contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
