On January 3, a Cuban immigrant, Geraldo Lunas Campos, died in a Texas immigration detention facility amid conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding his death. The local medical examiner indicated the death will likely be classified as a homicide, while the federal government claims Campos was attempting suicide when the incident happened.
Witnesses reported that Campos was handcuffed when he was tackled by guards and held in a chokehold until he lost consciousness. According to a preliminary autopsy report, he died from asphyxia caused by chest and neck compression.
This incident has intensified scrutiny over the treatment of immigrants in detention facilities, especially as the government has ramped up enforcement actions leading to more detentions. Campos’ family learned of the findings through the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office, where they were informed of the autopsy’s preliminary conclusions.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Campos, a registered sex offender, had died at Camp East Montana but failed to mention the altercation with staff in their initial report.
Following inquiries from the Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security amended its narrative, asserting that Campos resisted security staff while trying to harm himself.
Santos Jesús Flores, a fellow detainee, recounted witnessing the incident and claimed the guards' actions led to Campos’ death. Flores noted he observed multiple guards restraining Campos and allegedly squeezing his neck.
Established as one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the United States, Camp Montana East has been criticized for its rapidly constructed tent setups. The facility is operated by a private contractor without prior experience in corrections, raising further questions about the accountability of staff following such fatalities.
Campos, who arrived in the U.S. as part of a wave of Cuban immigrants in 1996, had previously been incarcerated for sex-related offenses. His death from apparent choking during restraint is part of a wider critique of lax regulations over detention centers, particularly those run by private contractors.
The circumstances surrounding Campos' passing are under investigation, and his family continues to seek answers from ICE, which has not effectively communicated with them since his death. Campos' mother, Jeanette Pagan-Lopez, expressed her desire for justice and for her children to have their father’s body returned for a proper burial.
As debates about immigration policies and enforcement intensify, this incident may further impact perceptions of the treatment of detainees and underscore the need for systemic changes within immigration detention facilities.
