EL PASO, Texas — The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a Cuban national held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been officially classified as a homicide, according to the El Paso County Medical Examiner.

Campos died on January 3, 2026, while detained at Camp East Montana, an ICE facility located on the grounds of Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army installation near the U.S.–Mexico border.

The medical examiner determined that Campos’ cause of death was asphyxia due to neck and torso compression, indicating that he was deprived of oxygen during a physical restraint. The ruling followed an autopsy that documented abrasions and hemorrhaging consistent with a struggle.

ICE initially stated that Campos became disruptive and was transferred to a segregation unit, where officials said he experienced a medical emergency. Early agency statements suggested a suicide attempt or self-harm.

However, witness accounts provided to investigators and journalists conflict with that narrative. A fellow detainee told reporters that multiple guards restrained Campos, during which he repeatedly said he could not breathe.

Facility Under Scrutiny

Camp East Montana has drawn attention from civil rights advocates due to a recent series of deaths at the facility. Campos’ death was the third reported fatality there in just over a month, raising concerns about oversight, staffing, and the use of force.

Because the detention center operates on a military base, jurisdictional authority for investigations may fall under federal or military oversight rather than local prosecutors, complicating potential legal action.

The Department of Homeland Security has stated that internal reviews are ongoing but has not announced disciplinary actions or criminal charges.

Who Was Geraldo Lunas Campos

Campos arrived in the United States from Cuba in the 1990s and lived in the country for decades. ICE detained him in mid-2025 as part of an immigration enforcement action. Family members say he suffered from mental health distress while in detention and have called for transparency surrounding his final hours.

Advocacy groups are urging independent investigations and reforms to detention practices, particularly regarding restraint techniques and medical monitoring.

What Comes Next

A homicide ruling does not automatically imply criminal charges, but it significantly raises the stakes for federal investigators. Legal experts say further action will depend on findings from internal reviews, federal prosecutors, and any congressional oversight.

The case has intensified debate over immigration detention policies, accountability, and the treatment of detainees in federal custody.

Sources: AP News,Texas Tribune, Univision, DHS, El Paso County Medical Examiner