The family of Nicaraguan Victor Manuel Diaz, who died in Camp East Montana on Jan. 14, released a message to El Paso pushing for oversight at the facility.
In the statement, they noted Diaz was “a good man” simply in the country to work and when he was detained, the expectation was that he would quickly be deported back to Nicaragua. Following Diaz’s death, Civil Rights attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family, and who read the statement on Tuesday, March 24 outside of City Hall, raised serious questions about it being ruled a suicide.
Diaz was laid to rest some weeks ago, Kallinen noted.
“Victor was greatly loved by our family, and he helped us greatly by sending money from work he did in Minnesota and elsewhere,” according to the statement. “He was trying to earn enough money for us to build a house here in Nicaragua and was law abiding…We talked to Victor after he was detained when he was in Camp East Montana, it was a brief call. Little did we know it was the last time we would hear his voice.”
The family recalled that when Immigration and Customs Enforcement contacted the family, they were told the agency would be in touch with more details. That call never came. Kallinen noted earlier in the same month that another detainee had died, and ICE claimed it was suicide, but the El Paso County Medical Examiner declared the death a homicide.
Civil Rights attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of Victor Manuel Diaz, who died in El Paso on Jan. 14, 2026, at the ICE facility of Camp East Montana, read a statement from the family on Tuesday, March 24 outside of City Hall.
Upon Diaz’s death, the U.S. Army post did not allow the El Paso Medical Examiner to do the autopsy and did it themselves, even though they were contractually obligated to let local authorities do the autopsy, the vendor contract stated.
“No one ever contacted us about Victor’s body was and we only learned this through our legal counsel,” the statement said. “We’ve seen the people of El Paso question what’s happened in their city with several death at the camp and the very poor living conditions in it. We thank every person in the (city) that questions what is happening in Camp East Montana. It’s time to make it safe.”
The family went on to contend that, like Diaz, other detainees deserve “to be treated decently, so that their loved ones will one day again see them in this world.”
More on illness at the camp Quarantine at Camp East Montana ICE immigration detention center lifted
Concerns about the Victor Diaz autopsy
Civil Rights attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of Victor Manuel Diaz, who died in El Paso on Jan. 14, 2026, at the ICE facility of Camp East Montana shows the request files to retrieve Diaz’ autopsy report from the U.S. Military.
Aside from the questions about conditions in the camp raised by other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Texas Civil Rights Project, questions persist about Diaz’s autopsy and why ICE had a military medical examiner conduct it.
According to the terms of the Camp East Montana, “if death is due to violence, accident surrounded by unusual or questionable circumstances, or is sudden and the deceased has not been under immediate medical supervision, the contractor shall notify the coroner of the local jurisdiction to request a review of the case, and if necessary, examination of the body.”
At the time of Diaz’s death, the camp was being run by Virginia-based Acquisitions Logistics, LLC. Kallinen noted it is no coincidence that the vendor was replaced by Amentum Services Inc., based in Chantilly, Virginia.
Kallinen even showed the original document in which he requested the official autopsy report, noting that it includes a line for the rank and service branch. He argued the form is for military personnel only and thus, a civilian medical examiner was supposed to be tasked with the autopsy.
A second autopsy was performed after Diaz’s body was released. Kallinen has not released both reports, citing the need for further investigation that could lead to pending litigation.
More on other ICE facilities in El Paso El Paso County Attorney presents report on Socorro ICE detention center
Quarantine blamed for stoppage of all legal counsel visits
Civil Rights attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of Victor Manuel Diaz, who died in El Paso on Jan. 14, 2026, at the ICE facility of Camp East Montana shows the confirmation for a virtual visit with another client at the facility that was cancelled upon another medical quarantine.
Kallinen also showed documentation that all legal consultations with detainees, including telephone and virtual appointments, have been halted.
“At this time, according to their own mouth yesterday, there is no confidential lawyer contact possible for anyone at Camp East Montana,” he said. “I just received notice of someone in the camp with a severe medical problem and I wanted to go see her. I asked what happens in case of an emergency and I was only give some numbers to call. I did and it was just a hot line for the Department of Homeland Security.”
Kallinen noted operators notified him that such decisions are made at the location rather than at the federal DHS level.
ACLU and Texas Civil Rights Project letters regarding conditions, including lack of food, medical care, adequate use-of-force policies, and access to legal assistance, have already been sent to ICE officials. Among the more severe allegations on site was that human feces from overflowing toilets were reported in eating areas.
More on witnesses to camp death He witnessed a migrant death at an ICE detention center, then was deported
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Family of migrant who died at El Paso ICE center demands oversight