A Texas medical examiner has officially labeled the death of a Cuban national in U.S. immigration detention as a homicide, overturning earlier federal explanations and prompting fresh questions about treatment of detainees. The finding stems from an autopsy that identified asphyxia due to neck and torso compression as the cause of death, according to official reports.
Autopsy Finds Homicidal Cause in Detention Death
The El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled on Wednesday that Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, did not die from natural causes or distress alone, but from homicide after being restrained at the Camp East Montana ICE detention facility in Texas. The autopsy report determined that pressure applied to his neck and chest obstructed his breathing, resulting in his death on January 3, 2026.
Evidence of bruising, injury marks and hemorrhaging on Campos’ body suggests a serious physical struggle before he stopped breathing. Those injuries, especially around his neck and torso, were key factors in the examiner’s determination that the death was caused by asphyxia under restraint.
Federal Accounts Shift, Witnesses Tell Different Story
Initially, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Campos experienced “medical distress” while in custody. Later statements from the Department of Homeland Security claimed Campos had attempted to take his own life and resisted staff intervention.
However, witness accounts shared with news agencies described guards restraining the detainee and applying force that hindered his ability to breathe. These conflicting narratives have fueled scrutiny from immigration advocates, lawmakers and civil rights groups calling for more transparency and potential investigations into detention conditions.
Questions Raised Over Detention Conditions at Texas Facility
Campos’ death marks one of several fatalities at the sprawling Camp East Montana detention center, which holds large numbers of immigrants on the grounds of Fort Bliss in El Paso. The facility has faced criticism due to multiple deaths in recent months and concerns over how detainees are managed, especially those with mental health conditions.
Lawmakers and rights organizations say this case underscores ongoing debates about oversight and accountability in immigration detention centers nationwide. Discussions continue over whether policy reforms or independent investigations are needed to address potential use of force and detainee safety.
