Report: Cuban immigrant's death at Camp East Montana likely 'homicide'

Updated Jan. 15, 2026, 5:34 p.m. MT

The death of a Cuban migrant "who experienced medical distress" while being held at an ICE detention center in El Paso is being investigated as a possible homicide.

Geraldo Lunas Campos' death was likely a homicide, an El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner employee told Lunas Campos' daughter, the Washington Post reported.

ICE officials made his death public in a Jan. 9 news release.

"His cause of death is under investigation," the news release states.

Lunas Campos' daughter shared an audio recording with the Post where the employee stated that the doctor had listed his preliminary reason for death as the result of "asphyxia due to neck and chest compression."

“Our doctor is believing that we’re going to be listing the manner of death as homicide,” the employee said in the recording, according to the Post.

The final cause of death will be determined once a toxicology report has been completed.

FBI-El Paso officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Typically, the FBI investigates homicides at federal facilities and on federal property.

The El Paso County Medical Examiner Office Chief of Operations Irene Santiago said the autopsy report was still pending and not publicly available as of Thursday, Jan. 15.

The Washington Post also reported that one migrant, Santos Jesus Flores, who was held at the facility, stated that Lunas Campos had struggled with five guards as they tried to place him in segregation. Lunas Campos reportedly told guards he couldn't breathe in Spanish.

Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old from Cuba, was reported dead on Jan. 3 after being held in segregation after a "disruptive" while in line for medication. He had been held at the facility for nearly four months.

He refused to return to his assigned dorm, the ICE news release states.

"He was subsequently placed in segregation. While in segregation, staff observed him in distress and contacted on-site medical personnel for assistance," the release states. "Medical staff responded, initiated lifesaving measures, and requested emergency medical services. Lunas was pronounced deceased by EMS."

He was the second immigrant held at the Camp East Montana facility to die since it opened in August 2025.

At least four immigrants have died in immigration detention since Jan. 1.

Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@usatodayco.com; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.