The death of an ICE detainee in El Paso is likely to be classified as a homicide by a local medical examiner’s office, according to the Washington Post.
Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant who was arrested by ICE in July, died on Jan. 3 at a tent detention center at the Fort Bliss military base, one of four ICE detainees who died in federal custody in the first ten days of 2026.
An employee of the El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner described the preliminary cause of death to Lunas Campos’ family members as “asphyxia due to neck and chest compression” and said “our doctor is believing that we’re going to be listing the manner of death as homicide,” according to a recording of a phone call reviewed by the Post. The detainee who witnessed the incident told the Post they saw five guards choking Lunas Campos as he repeatedly said “I cannot breathe.”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials initially gave no cause of death, issuing a statement that said Lunas Campos was being placed into segregation after he became “disruptive” while in line for medication and that they were investigating his death. A department spokesperson later claimed Lunas Campos’ violent struggle with its staff was an attempt on his own life.