In brief
Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan, died at the Camp East Montana detention facility in Texas after a reported suicide attempt. His family expresses skepticism about claims of suicide, emphasizing that he was due to be reunited with relatives in Nicaragua if deported. Diaz's death is part of a troubling trend at the facility, which has seen multiple deaths and allegations of mistreatment. Advocacy groups have urged the immediate closure of Camp East Montana amidst ongoing investigations.
Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man, was found dead at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, days after being detained by immigration authorities in Minnesota. A 911 call indicated Diaz had attempted suicide, with guards discovering him in a state of distress.
Diaz's attorney, Randall Kallinen, questions the suicide claim, noting that Diaz had been optimistic about potentially reuniting with his family in Nicaragua following deportation. This tragic incident marks at least the third death at the Camp East Montana facility, which has been under scrutiny for allegations of violence and neglect towards detainees.
The family's disbelief highlights concerns about the mental and physical conditions in which detainees are held. Advocates, alongside a congresswoman representing El Paso, have repeatedly called for the closure of the facility after several troubling incidents, including another detainee’s death ruled a homicide.
ICE has reported Diaz's death as a presumed suicide, but activists and family members assert the need for a complete investigation into the circumstances leading to his death. With grieving families and community organizations demanding accountability, the spotlight is firmly on the immigrant detention system in the U.S.
