A Cuban migrant detained at an immigration facility in Texas passed away under troubling circumstances, as revealed by an autopsy report released Wednesday. Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old father of four, died on Jan. 3 after an altercation with guards. Initially, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claimed that Lunas Campos was attempting suicide and was being assisted by the staff. However, a witness disclosed to The Associated Press that Lunas Campos was restrained by at least five guards, with one applying pressure to his neck until he lost consciousness.
ICE reported that last year saw 30 deaths in their custody, the highest in two decades. Additionally, within the first ten days of 2026, four immigrants, including Lunas Campos, passed away while in federal immigration custody. This marked the third death in less than two months at Camp East Montana, situated in the desert at Fort Bliss near El Paso. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat representing El Paso, urged DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE director Todd M. Lyons to provide Congress with a briefing on the recent series of deaths.
The autopsy, conducted by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office, indicated signs of a struggle on Lunas Campos’s body, including chest and knee abrasions and neck hemorrhages. Dr. Adam Gonzalez, the deputy medical examiner, concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia due to compression on the neck and torso. The report mentioned that witnesses observed Lunas Campos becoming unresponsive while being restrained by law enforcement.
Contrary to ICE’s initial account, the autopsy did not mention a suicide attempt by Lunas Campos. The government’s shifting narrative raised doubts about the circumstances leading to Lunas Campos’s demise. The medical examiner’s determination of homicide could have significant implications for potential legal actions against the guards involved. The fact that the incident occurred on an army base might limit local authorities’ jurisdiction to investigate further.
Lunas Campos, who had a history of criminal convictions, was among the first detainees transferred to Camp Montana East in September. He was taken into custody in July due to prior criminal convictions that made him eligible for deportation. Records show that Lunas Campos had convictions for sexual contact with a minor and drug-related offenses. Following the release of the final autopsy report, DHS labeled Lunas Campos as a “criminal illegal alien and convicted child sex predator.”
ICE’s management of the detention facility has come under scrutiny, especially after the series of deaths that have occurred there. The private contractor responsible for operating Camp East Montana, Acquisition Logistics LLC, has faced criticism for its lack of prior experience in managing correctional facilities. The ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding Lunas Campos’s death raise concerns about accountability and oversight within the immigration enforcement system.
