In May, Samuel Gonzalez Terrones, 21, was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, leading him to seek therapy and medication. A month later, his mother, Minerva Terrones Dominguez, 54, was arrested by immigration agents in San Bernardino for being in the country illegally. While she was detained, Samuel's mental health deteriorated, and he became increasingly despondent. His family struggled to pay for an immigration lawyer while Samuel spent more time alone at home in Rialto.
Samuel's sister, Sari Gonzalez, noted that their mother was a crucial support for him during his mental health struggles. The family was working to secure Minerva's release through a legal process that would demonstrate her deportation would cause extreme hardship to Samuel.
On August 12, San Bernardino police responded to a railroad crossing where Samuel was pronounced dead. In a letter he wrote before his death, he expressed his despair over his mother's detention, stating, "To the ICE agent who took away my mother: I hope it was worth it. I can’t handle anymore injustices in this world."
The article highlights the complex motivations behind suicide and notes that immigrant advocates have reported similar cases. For example, a 20-year-old Haitian man died after the Trump administration ended his Temporary Protected Status. The Associated Press reported that at least 10 detainees had died by suicide since President Trump took office.
Samuel's family described him as caring and generous, with aspirations of becoming a graphic designer. His mental health issues began in 2021 during his freshman year of high school. Following his mother's detention, Samuel's family faced financial difficulties, and he withdrew from social interactions.
On the day of Minerva's arrest, federal agents stopped her without a warrant and detained her. After Samuel's death, his lawyer requested Minerva's emergency release, which was granted by a federal judge who found her detention unlawful. Minerva is still in deportation proceedings, and without Samuel, she no longer qualifies for the legal pathway her lawyers had prepared. The family has started a fundraiser for Samuel's funeral, and he was buried on September 22 at the Rialto Park Cemetery.
The article concludes with details about the author's background and other unrelated topics from the Los Angeles Times.