Héctor García Mendoza
Biography
Héctor García Mendoza was detained at Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey and became a plaintiff in litigation challenging conditions during COVID-19. His attorneys reported that ICE deported him to Mexico on May 19, 2020, despite a judicial stay obtained that day. They alleged that removing a named plaintiff was retaliatory and demanded his return. This record attributes those allegations to his legal team and does not represent a final adjudication of liability.
Case history and verification
Héctor García Mendoza was detained at Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey and became a plaintiff in litigation challenging conditions during COVID-19. His attorneys reported that ICE deported him to Mexico on May 19, 2020, despite a judicial stay obtained that day. They alleged that removing a named plaintiff was retaliatory and demanded his return. This record attributes those allegations to his legal team and does not represent a final adjudication of liability.
Status reviewed October 8, 2026: The documented U.S. detention ended in deportation to Mexico on May 19, 2020, according to his attorneys. His current location and custody status are not verified; no current ICE custody is asserted.
Sources
- Immigrant Defense Project and legal team: May 20, 2020 statement
- CCR/IDP: Cruel by Design, February 2022
Biographical details and photo sources
Reported age: 30 in the June 1, 2020 Univision report. This is a dated historical age, not a statement of current age.
Photo: Courtesy AFSC New Jersey, published by Univision; the caption identifies Hector Garcia Mendoza. Photo source and caption.
Verified detail sources (October 8, 2026): The May 15, 2020 complaint, paragraph 111 (PDF page 34), states that Héctor García Mendoza had been detained at Elizabeth Detention Center since March 2020. Only month precision is supported. Its reported age of 30 is not converted into a birthdate. Source 1.
<p>The May 15, 2020 verified class-action complaint describes García Mendoza’s construction and landscaping work in New Jersey and ties to a Catholic church in Freehold. It alleges that lack of an immigration lawyer, law-library and printer access, and barriers to mailing court documents hindered his defense. These statements describe plaintiffs’ allegations, not adjudicated findings.</p>
Verified complaint, Aganan v. Rodriguez, filed May 15, 2020.
