A Cuban migrant detained in solitary confinement at an immigration center in Texas passed away after being restrained by guards, leading to him losing consciousness, as per an autopsy report released on Wednesday, which classified the death as a homicide.
Geraldo Lunas Campos died on January 3 following an encounter with guards. Initially, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that the 55-year-old father of four was trying to harm himself, and the staff attempted to assist him.
However, a witness informed The Associated Press last week that Lunas Campos was handcuffed while at least five guards subdued him, with one placing an arm around his neck, causing him to lose consciousness.
Last year, ICE reported at least 30 deaths in their custody, the highest number in twenty years. Within the first ten days of 2026, four immigrants, including Lunas Campos, passed away while in federal immigration detention.
Lunas Campos’s death marked the third fatality in less than two months at Camp East Montana, a large tent facility located in the desert on the premises of Fort Bliss near El Paso.
Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat representing El Paso, urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE director Todd M. Lyons to brief Congress on the recent deaths.
Escobar stated on Wednesday, “DHS must preserve all evidence — including halting their effort to deport the witnesses. I reiterate my call for Camp East Montana to be shut down and for the contract with the corporation running it to be terminated.”
Asphyxia as the cause of death, according to medical examiner
An autopsy report from the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed signs of a struggle on Lunas Campos’s body, including chest and knee abrasions, as well as neck hemorrhages.
Dr. Adam Gonzalez, the deputy medical examiner, concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia resulting from compression on the neck and torso.
Witnesses observed Lunas Campos “become unresponsive while being physically restrained by law enforcement,” as stated in the report.
Although the report did not provide details on the struggle, it mentioned evidence of injuries to his neck, head, and torso related to physical restraint. Additionally, the report noted petechial hemorrhages in the eyelids and neck skin, which are indicative of intense strain or injury.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Victor Weedn, who reviewed the autopsy report for AP, explained that the presence of petechiae in the eyes supports the conclusion of asphyxia as the cause of death. He emphasized that these injuries suggest bodily pressure and are commonly linked to such fatalities.
Dr. Weedn also mentioned that the bruises on Lunas Campos’s body could be a result of physical restraint and that the neck injuries were consistent with pressure from a hand or knee.