Protesters rallied along the San Ysidro Port of Entry Saturday afternoon, demanding justice for the man who died while in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody on Christmas Eve.
Community members and relatives of 40-year-old Francisco Cesena held up signs and chanted in front of the Port of Entry. His mother and best friend were among those present.
Cesena died after being taken into custody for a security check. Agents seized heroin from him and found out he was wanted on a felony warrant.
He then allegedly attacked two officers and was subsequently tased, according to Customs and Border Protection officials. Cesena became unresponsive and stopped breathing just before 7 p.m. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later at Sharp Chula Vista Hospital.
His exact cause and manner of death have not been disclosed.
Protesters at the U.S.-Mexico border were also seen holding signs for the 43 Mexican students whose remains were found after they went missing last September.
