EL PASO, Texas (WorldVoice) — A Nicaraguan immigrant, Victor Manuel Diaz, was found dead in a Texas immigration detention facility last week, raising serious questions about the conditions in which detainees are held. Federal officials confirmed that Diaz appears to have taken his own life at Fort Bliss, a military base housing the detainee complex in El Paso, Texas.
His death is currently under investigation by federal authorities. This incident follows the death of another detainee earlier this month; both cases have spotlighted the treatment of individuals within the immigration detention system.
Sources indicate that Diaz was apprehended in January during a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota and subsequently transferred to Texas. Diaz had been ordered to leave the U.S. by a judge but did not attend the hearing where the decision was made. He received a final order of removal just two days before being found unresponsive.
In a previous incident at the same facility, 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos died while staff attempted to prevent him from harming himself, but early investigations suggested that his death may have been caused by asphyxia due to neck and chest compression. Reports suggest that officers restrained him forcefully, raising concerns about the use of force in detention facilities.
The situation surrounding Diaz's tragic death emphasizes the urgent need for scrutiny and reform in the immigration detention system in order to ensure the safety and well-being of those held in custody.
For immediate support, individuals are encouraged to reach out to the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
