Cuban detainee death at US immigration facility likely to be ruled homicide: Report

By Ayse Irem Cakir and Selcuk Uysal

A Cuban detainee’s death at a Texas immigration detention facility is likely to be ruled a homicide, according to preliminary findings reported by US media.

Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, died on Jan. 3 at the Camp East Montana detention center on the Fort Bliss military base in Texas, where he was being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Washington Post reported that an audio recording from the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office, shared by Campos’ daughter, indicates the preliminary cause of death was “asphyxia due to neck and chest compression.”

That suggests insufficient oxygen caused by pressure on his neck and chest, with the manner of death likely to be classified as homicide pending toxicology results.

A fellow detainee, Santos Jesus Flores, told the daily that he witnessed at least five guards struggling with Campos, claiming they “choked” him after he resisted being taken to separate housing. Campos reportedly said “I can’t breathe” in Spanish during the incident.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed the account. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Campos had attempted suicide while being held at the facility.

According to the agency, security staff immediately intervened to save his life, but Campos violently resisted and continued attempting to take his life. During the ensuing struggle, Campos stopped breathing and lost consciousness, it said.

The Camp East Montana facility, a tent-based detention center located close to the Mexico border, is primarily designed for short-term holding of single adults pending deportation.

The facility opened last August with an initial capacity of about 1,000 detainees and is expanding toward a planned maximum of 5,000.

It has previously faced criticism over issues including inadequate medical care and procedural lapses, according to inspection reports. The death remains under investigation.