Full Breakdown
Deaths in ICE Custody Raise Concerns Over Treatment at Camp East Montana
1/24/2026, 4:44:06 AM
Incident Overview: Death of Geraldo Lunas Campos
Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban immigrant, died on January 3, 2023, while in custody at Camp East Montana, a detention facility in El Paso, Texas. The El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide, attributing it to asphyxia caused by compression to his neck and torso during a struggle with guards. According to a 911 call from Lt. Paul Walden, a detention officer, Lunas Campos attempted to hang himself before being restrained by guards, which led to his loss of consciousness and subsequent death.
Background: Camp East Montana and Previous Incidents
Camp East Montana, opened in 2022, has faced scrutiny for its treatment of detainees. Lunas Campos was not the first individual to die at this facility; he was the third, following Francisco Gaspar-Andres, who died from liver disease in December 2022, and Victor Manuel Diaz, who was found dead on January 14, 2023, under circumstances that are still under investigation. The facility's history raises concerns about the protocols in place for handling detainees, particularly those with mental health issues.
Official Statements and Responses
Initially, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Lunas Campos became disruptive while waiting for medication and was placed in solitary confinement. They later acknowledged that he attempted suicide and that staff intervened. However, the medical examiner's findings contradict ICE's narrative, suggesting that the guards' actions contributed to his death. ICE has confirmed that investigations into both Lunas Campos's and Diaz's deaths are ongoing.
Criticism and Opposition: Calls for Accountability
The circumstances surrounding Lunas Campos's death have prompted criticism from various quarters, including his family, who allege that he was killed by guards. Witness accounts describe a violent restraint, with multiple guards holding him down. His family is preparing a wrongful-death lawsuit, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency regarding the treatment of detainees at ICE facilities.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
There are discrepancies in the accounts provided by ICE and the findings of the medical examiner. While ICE initially reported that Lunas Campos died from medical distress, the autopsy revealed a homicide due to asphyxia. Furthermore, the El Paso Police Department did not engage in an investigation, raising questions about oversight and accountability in such cases.
What's Next: Ongoing Investigations
As investigations continue into the deaths of Lunas Campos and Diaz, there is growing pressure on ICE to implement changes in how detainees are managed, particularly regarding mental health and restraint procedures. The deaths have sparked public outcry and calls for reform, highlighting the urgent need for improved conditions and oversight in immigration detention facilities.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He tried to hang himself, and then we put him in cuffs, and he kept going,” — Lt. Paul Walden, Detention Officer
- “The medical examiner concluded that Lunas Campos died from asphyxia caused by chest and neck compression, suggesting the death would likely be classified as a homicide.” — El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office
- “Lunas Campos’s family alleges that he was killed by the facility’s guards.” — Will Horowitz, Attorney for Lunas Campos’s Family
- “It’s just tragic that two men have died in such a short period, especially when the circumstances surrounding the first death are so incredibly questionable.” — Commentary on ICE's handling of the situation
