Cuban Immigrant's Death in Texas Detention Center Raises Homicide Concerns

Fri Jan 16 2026 23:20:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a Cuban immigrant, at a Texas immigration detention facility during a confrontation with guards is under scrutiny as the local medical examiner suggests it could be classified as homicide. Meanwhile, conflicting accounts from the federal government raise serious questions about the conditions in immigration jails.

Geraldo Lunas Campos, a Cuban immigrant, died in a Texas immigration detention facility early January, with conflicting accounts from federal officials. Witnesses claim he died after being restrained by guards, while the Department of Homeland Security asserts he attempted suicide. The local medical examiner's preliminary autopsy ruling suggests asphyxia causing homicide. This incident has drawn attention to detention facility conditions amidst current immigration enforcement actions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Cuban immigrant, Geraldo Lunas Campos, died in a Texas immigration detention facility earlier this month following a confrontation with guards, with local medical examiners indicating that his death will likely be classified as a homicide.

According to federal government accounts, Lunas Campos, 55, was attempting suicide, while witnesses at the facility described a situation wherein he was restrained, tackled by guards, and placed in a chokehold until he lost consciousness. Lunas Campos’ family received news from the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office that a preliminary autopsy indicated asphyxia due to chest and neck compression as the cause of death.

The circumstances surrounding the death have escalated scrutiny of immigration detention facilities as the government enforces immigration policies leading to large numbers of detentions. On January 3, when Lunas Campos died at Camp East Montana, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acknowledged the death but omitted any mention of his altercation with staff.

In a subsequent amended statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Lunas Campos had violently resisted staff during an attempted suicide, leading to his loss of consciousness. However, detainee testimonies suggest he was handcuffed and attacked by multiple guards before the incident escalated.

Detainee Santos Jesús Flores, who witnessed part of the incident, stated, 'He didn’t want to enter the cell, and then the guards grabbed him... the last thing he said was that he couldn’t breathe.'

Following Lunas Campos’ death, questions loomed over the operational authority at Camp Montana East, anticipated to become the largest detention facility in the U.S., constructed hastily at Fort Bliss, Texas, and operated by a private contractor without prior facility management experience.

Lunas Campos, a registered sex offender, was detained in September after ICE arrested him in Rochester, New York, where he had lived for over two decades. The events leading to his death have sparked discussions on the treatment of detainees and the policies governing ICE actions.

The final determination of homicide by the medical examiner is critical since it may influence potential accountability for guards involved. The incident could have legal implications, especially since it took place on a military base, potentially limiting investigation opportunities. Family members, meanwhile, are seeking answers and justice surrounding the incident as they cope with their loss.

As his mother, Jeanette Pagan-Lopez, seeks to repatriate Lunas Campos’ body, she expressed grief and determination for justice, stating, 'He wasn’t a bad guy. I just want justice, and his body here. That’s all I want.'