Cuban Dies in ICE Custody: Medical Examiner Rules Death a Homicide

The death of a 55-year-old Cuban migrant at ICE’s largest detention center has been officially classified as a homicide, marking the first such case linked to staff in at least 15 years.

Geraldo Lunas Campos died on January 3, 2026, at Camp East Montana, located at Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas. The county medical examiner determined the cause of death was “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.”

From “Medical Distress” to “Spontaneous Use of Force”

Initially, ICE officials declared that Campos had died from “medical distress.” However, this week authorities quietly updated the official cause, describing it as the result of staff’s “spontaneous use of force” to “prevent him from harming himself.”

The change in official narrative came weeks after the local medical examiner ruled Lunas Campos’ death a homicide, making it the first such ruling for an ICE detainee’s death linked to staff in at least 15 years, according to experts.

A Pattern of Violations and Abuse

Camp East Montana, which operates as ICE’s largest detention facility, has been mired in controversy since its opening in August 2025. Detainees have complained of physical abuse by guards, inadequate food, and substandard medical care.

In September, ICE’s own inspectors found dozens of violations of federal standards. These problems culminated with the death of Lunas Campos, who was in solitary confinement at the time of the incident.

According to the autopsy report, emergency medical workers tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The report also described injuries suggesting excessive use of force.

The Case of José Miguel Suri Hernández

Campos’ death is not an isolated incident. Another case illustrating the troubling conditions at ICE detention centers is that of José Miguel Suri Hernández, a 26-year-old Cuban who has been detained for more than seven months.

Hernández entered the United States in November 2024 through the CBP One application. He was arrested by ICE agents immediately after a hearing at Sterling Immigration Court in July 2025, despite having a pending green card application and no criminal history.

His girlfriend, Luz Hernández, a U.S. citizen, described the cruelty of the arrest: “As soon as we opened the courthouse doors, ICE arrested him. They arrested him so roughly that they even cut through his skin. He was bleeding.”

Contract Review Under Scrutiny

The series of incidents and deaths at Camp East Montana has led the Department of Homeland Security to announce a review of the facility’s contract. Three people have died while in custody since the center opened.

A USCIS spokesperson, Matthew Tragesser, defended the agency’s actions: “A pending green card application does not shield an alien from enforcement actions by ICE. The safety of the American people always comes first.”

Deplorable Conditions and Emergency Calls

911 call records reveal the misery inside the facility: suicide attempts, fights, and constant pain. In Lunas Campos’ specific case, authorities said security guards responded after the 55-year-old man tried to harm himself and then used handcuffs and force to restrain him.

The center, which can house up to 1,800 detainees, has been criticized by human rights organizations denouncing inhumane conditions and lack of adequate medical supervision.

Separated Families and Broken Dreams

For Luz Hernández, the situation is devastating. The couple had planned to marry, but José Miguel hadn’t brought his birth certificate from Cuba. “When his father sent it, it arrived one day before he was arrested here,” she recounted with pain.

An online fundraiser for Hernández has raised $2,500, but his family already spent $11,000 of their savings on legal fees. “This is his last chance; he has been in immigration detention for almost 8 months,” the fundraising site states.

The Broader Immigration Crisis

The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos and the ongoing detention of José Miguel Suri Hernández represent a broader crisis in the U.S. immigration detention system. Both cases highlight the precarious situation facing hundreds of thousands of Cuban migrants caught between Trump’s deportation policies and Cuba’s deteriorating conditions.

Camp East Montana operates under a private contractor model that has faced increasing scrutiny. The facility’s problems culminated with Lunas Campos’ death, which investigators found involved excessive force leading to asphyxiation.

The cases underscore how immigration enforcement has intensified under the Trump administration’s second term, with detention rates soaring and conditions deteriorating across the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Camp East Montana?

It’s ICE’s largest immigrant detention facility, located at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, with capacity for up to 1,800 detainees.

How many deaths have been recorded at this facility?

Three people have died in custody since the center opened in August 2025, with Geraldo Lunas Campos’ death being the first classified as homicide.

What does it mean for a death to be classified as homicide in this context?

It means the death was caused by actions of other people, in this case detention center staff who applied excessive force resulting in asphyxia.

Can ICE detain someone with a pending green card application?

According to ICE, a pending green card application does not protect against enforcement actions. However, legal experts question these arrests when there’s no criminal history or deportation order.

The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos exposes a systemic crisis in the United States immigration detention system. His case, along with that of José Miguel Suri Hernández and hundreds of other Cuban detainees, reflects the urgent need for reforms in detention conditions and oversight of privately-administered centers.