TEXAS — Another migrant death has been reported at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in West Texas. This is the second death at the facility, which was opened in August.
What You Need To Know
Geraldo Lunas Campos, a migrant from Cuba, died in ICE custody on Jan. 3
Campos’ death is under investigation after he experienced medical distress
There have been concerns about the adequacy of trained ICE personnel at the facility
According to a news release from ICE, 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos died in ICE custody on Jan. 3 at Camp East Montana, an immigration detention center at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso. Officials said Lunas Campos was pronounced dead at 10:16 p.m. after “experiencing medical distress,” and the cause of death is under investigation.
ICE claimed that Lunas Campos earlier in the day was “disruptive” while waiting for medication and refused to return to his dorm, so staff placed him in segregation.
“While in segregation, staff observed him in distress and contacted on-site medical personnel for assistance. Medical staff responded, initiated lifesaving measures, and requested emergency medical services,” the release said.
Lunas Campos was a migrant from Cuba who entered the U.S. in 1996 and was convicted of multiple crimes, including weapons charges, larceny and sexual contact with a child, ICE said. He faced a deportation order in 2005.
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, has previously expressed concerns about the detention center, saying in September that she was concerned that there weren’t enough trained ICE personnel at the facility. She toured the $1.24 billion facility multiple times last year that, as of December, houses over 3,000 migrants. It’s the largest facility of its kind in the U.S.
When the facility was opened, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called the facility the “Lone Star Lockup” and said he was confident ICE would operate the site humanely and safely.
“There will be whatever we need in order to restore the rule of law and order to our immigration system,” Cornyn said.
In a statement to Spectrum News at the time, the Department of Homeland Security said the Fort Bliss facility “will offer everything a traditional ICE detention facility offers, including access to legal representation and a law library, access to visitation, recreational space, medical treatment space, and nutritionally balanced meals.”
Guatemalan immigrant Francisco Gaspar Cristóbal Andrés was the first detainee being held at the facility to die. He was taken to an area hospital on Nov. 16 and died on Dec. 3.