At a Glance
- Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, died in ICE custody at Camp East Montana on January 3
- Medical examiner lists preliminary cause as asphyxia from neck and chest compression
- Fellow detainee reports Campos repeatedly said “I can’t breathe” during struggle
- Why it matters: First confirmed ICE custody homicide in Texas this year raises oversight questions
A Cuban national detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso died after agents allegedly choked him during a confrontation, according to a medical examiner and witness accounts obtained by News Of Los Angeles.
Autopsy Findings
Audio shared with the Washington Post captures an El Paso County medical examiner employee stating that asphyxia due to neck and chest compression caused Geraldo Lunas Campos’s death on January 3. The staffer adds that the manner of death will be listed as homicide while toxicology results are pending.
ICE Account of Incident
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles that Campos, described as a “criminal illegal alien and convicted child sex predator,” attempted suicide inside Camp East Montana detention facility. Security staff intervened, the spokesperson said, but Campos “violently resisted” and continued trying to harm himself before losing consciousness.
Key points from DHS statement:
- Medical staff responded immediately
- EMTs performed repeated resuscitation attempts
- Campos declared dead on scene
- Death remains under active investigation
Witness Description
Santos Jesus Flores, housed in the same unit, told the Washington Post he saw at least five guards struggle with Campos after the detainee said he lacked his medication. Flores recalled Campos pleading “No puedo respirar” before falling silent.
Timeline prior to death:
- January 3: Campos becomes disruptive in medication line
- Refused to return to dorm, placed in segregation
- Staff later observe him in distress
- Physical altercation ensues
Detention History
Campos entered the United States in 1996 and accumulated multiple felony convictions, according to DHS. An immigration judge ordered his removal on March 1, 2005, but Cuban travel document issues delayed deportation. He was transferred to ICE custody at Camp East Montana on September 6, 2025, and remained there until his death.
Ongoing Investigation
ICE stated it investigates every in-custody death. The agency emphasized that the health and safety of detainees is taken seriously and pledged additional details as the inquiry proceeds. El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner did not respond to News Of Los Angeles‘s request for comment.
Key Takeaways
- Preliminary autopsy attributes death to compressive injuries inflicted by agents
- ICE confirms detainee died during intervention following suicide attempt
- Witness alleges excessive force after medication dispute
- Federal oversight of detention conditions likely to intensify
