Killing of Geraldo Lunas Campos

Last updated
Killing of Geraldo Lunas Campos
DateJanuary 3, 2026;24 days ago (2026-01-03)
Location Camp East Montana, El Paso, Texas, United States
DeathsGeraldo Lunas Campos

On January 3, 2026, 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos died while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Lunas Campos had attempted suicide, but witnesses said he died after being restrained by multiple guards. His death was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Coroner. [1]

Contents

Background

Geraldo Lunas Campos was a 55-year-old man who came to the United States from Cuba in 1996. In 2003, he was convicted in New York of sexual contact with an individual under 11 and was sentenced to a year in jail and registration in the sex offender registry. [2] In 2009 Lunas Campos was convicted of attempting to sell a controlled substance. He was detained by ICE in July 2025 while living in Rochester, and transferred to Camp East Montana in September. [2]

Incident

Lunas Campos died on January 3, 2026, while in custody at Camp East Montana. A private security contractor called 911 to report Lunas Campos was trying to kill himself. The contractor said other guards put Lunas Campos in handcuffs after he attempted to hang himself. [3] Another detainee who witnessed Lunas Campos' death told the Associated Press that guards handcuffed Lunas Campos, tackled him, and put him in a chokehold until he lost consciousness. The detainee also said that he heard Lunas Campos repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" in Spanish. [2] [4] ICE's initial report, published on January 9, made no mention of an attempted suicide. [5] A second witness said the altercation began when Lunas Campos requested his asthma medication and was being dragged to a segregated detention area, though an ex-partner of Lunas Campos did not recall him having asthma. [6]

Lunas Campos was one of three Camp East Montana detainees who died in custody in a 44-day span. Francisco Gaspar-Andres of Guatemala died on December 3, 2025, of reported kidney failure, and Victor Manuel Diaz of Nicaragua died on January 14, 2026; ICE reported Diaz's death as a suicide. [7]

Investigation and aftermath

On January 21, the El Paso County Coroner ruled Lunas Campos' death a homicide, reporting he died from asphyxia caused by compression of the neck and torso. [8] The same day, a federal judge blocked deportation of two detainees who witnessed Lunas Campos' death. [9]

El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson called for an independent investigation into Lunas Campos' death. [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Biesecker, Michael; Foley, Ryan J. (January 21, 2026). "Autopsy finds Cuban immigrant in ICE custody died of homicide due to asphyxia". The Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Biesecker, Michael; Attanasio, Cedar; Foley, Ryan J. (January 17, 2026). "ICE says Cuban immigrant died while attempting suicide. A witness says guards pinned and choked him". The Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  3. ↑ Foley, Ryan J.; Biesecker, Michael (January 23, 2026). "Private guard called 911 in ICE detainee homicide, saying man 'kept going' after suicide attempt". The Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  4. ↑ Lubin, Rhian (January 16, 2026). "Medical examiner set to rule ICE detention death a homicide - despite DHS initial claims: report". The Independent. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Cuban-born immigrant died by homicide at ICE facility in Texas, autopsy finds". CBC. The Associated Press. January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ MacMillian, Douglas (January 17, 2026). "DHS seeking to deport two men who said fellow ICE detainee was killed". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  7. ↑ DeGuzman, Colleen (January 21, 2026). "Immigrant's death in ICE custody ruled homicide by El Paso medical examiner". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ Wolfe, Elizabeth; Gainor, Danya (January 21, 2026). "Medical examiner rules ICE detainee's death at Texas facility a homicide". CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ Cuevas, Eduardo (January 23, 2026). "DHS can't deport detainees who saw man's death in custody, judge rules". USA Today. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ Bedoya, Aaron A. (January 22, 2026). "Homicide at ICE facility sparks El Paso mayor's call for investigation". El Paso Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
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