EL PASO, Texas (Valley News Live) – A 36-year-old Nicaraguan man died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Jan. 14 at a detention facility in El Paso, Texas, according to ICE officials.
Victor Manuel Diaz was found unconscious and unresponsive in his room at Camp East Montana. Contract security staff immediately notified medical personnel on site, who began life-saving measures.
El Paso emergency medical services arrived at 3:45 p.m. MST and continued treatment. Diaz was pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m. MST.
ICE officials say the death is a presumed suicide, but the official cause remains under investigation.
Diaz entered ICE custody Jan. 6 after officers encountered him in Minneapolis and determined he was in the U.S. without legal authorization. He was arrested for an immigration violation.
According to ICE records, Diaz entered the U.S. on March 26, 2024, when Border Patrol agents encountered him at the U.S.-Mexico border. After processing, he received a notice to appear before an immigration judge and was released on parole pending his court date.
An immigration judge ordered Diaz removed in absentia Aug. 26, 2025. ICE processed him for removal Jan. 12 and detained him pending deportation.
Federal law requires ICE to publicize reports of in-custody deaths within 90 days.
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