Authorities have classified the death of a Cuban detainee held at an immigration center in Texas as a homicide, according to multiple news outlets citing medical examiner reports. The El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner announced this determination on Wednesday following an autopsy conducted by deputy medical examiner Adam C. Gonzalez. The report attributed the cause of death to "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression." The office has not yet issued a formal public statement, and Reuters was unable to independently confirm these findings.
The deceased has been identified as Geraldo Lunas Campos, aged 55, who died while under custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 3 at Camp East Montana, where he was held following his detention. ICE had earlier communicated that Campos experienced "medical distress" prior to his death.
Commenting on the case, a representative for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, explained that Campos had attempted to end his own life during his federal detention. According to the spokesperson, security personnel intervened promptly to prevent the suicide attempt. However, Campos purportedly resisted their efforts aggressively and continued attempts to harm himself. During the altercation, he ceased breathing and lost consciousness.
The Department of Homeland Security emphasized that the circumstances surrounding Campos's death are subject to an active, ongoing investigation. This incident is part of a broader context where ICE recorded at least 30 detainee deaths in the previous year — marking the highest toll in two decades. Additionally, in the first ten days of 2026, four detainees, including Campos, have died while in federal custody.
The rising number of deaths in ICE holding facilities raises concerns among policymakers, human rights advocates, and the public at large about detainee treatment and medical care within immigration enforcement. However, official investigations are underway to clarify the specific causes and contributing factors for these fatalities.