ICE detainee death may be homicide in Texas camp

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The ICE detainee death of Geraldo Lunas Campos has raised serious concerns after reports suggested the preliminary cause may be “asphyxia due to neck and chest compression,” prompting a potential homicide investigation. Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant, died on 3 January while held at Camp East Montana, a large tent facility at Fort Bliss in El Paso. ICE stated he experienced “medical distress,” though witnesses allege the circumstances were far more violent. Human rights advocates have long criticised the camp’s conditions, calling for accountability in cases such as this ICE detainee death.

According to documents reviewed by local authorities, the El Paso County medical examiner’s office informed Lunas Campos’s family that the death may be officially classified as a homicide once toxicology reports are finalised. This incident follows a disturbing pattern, as Lunas Campos was one of four detainees who died in the first ten days of 2026. Last year was noted as the deadliest in over twenty years for ICE, with December 2025 recording six deaths.

The Department of Homeland Security had previously emphasised Campos’s arrest as a key victory of Trump-era immigration enforcement policies. His criminal record includes convictions for child sexual abuse, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm. ICE’s press statement noted he had been placed in segregation after allegedly becoming disruptive while waiting for medication. Officials claimed medical personnel were called when he experienced distress, and he was pronounced dead at 10.16 pm.

However, witnesses detained with Campos have provided starkly contrasting accounts. Santos Jesus Flores, a fellow detainee, said he saw five guards restraining Campos physically, choking him as he resisted entry into segregation due to a lack of medication. Flores said he heard Campos repeatedly say in Spanish, “I cannot breathe, I cannot breathe,” before falling silent. These claims have intensified scrutiny over the camp’s management and the use of force in the latest ICE detainee death.

Camp East Montana has faced criticism from human rights organisations for years, accused of overcrowding, insufficient medical care, and harsh disciplinary measures. Francisco Gaspar-Andres, a 48-year-old Guatemalan man also held at Fort Bliss, died in hospital late last year after similar health complications. Lunas Campos’s ICE detainee death therefore underscores systemic concerns about detainee treatment and the potential for preventable fatalities.

Legal experts emphasise that if the medical examiner confirms homicide, ICE could face significant investigations and potential civil liability. Human rights organisations are calling for federal oversight to ensure detainee safety and accountability. Families of detainees are also pressing for legislative attention to prevent similar tragedies in facilities like Fort Bliss, where ICE detainee death has become a troubling pattern.

As the investigation continues, attention is focused on detention staff, medical monitoring, and adherence to federal and human rights standards. The case may set precedent for future examinations of deaths in ICE custody, with implications for policy, accountability, and detainee welfare nationwide.

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