EL PASO, Texas \u2014 A third migrant has died at an El Paso detention camp as an investigation into another immigrant\u2019s death earlier this month has brought national attention to the facility.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that 36-year-old Victor Manuel Diaz died in ICE custody on Jan. 14 at Camp East Montana, an immigration detention center at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that 36-year-old Victor Manuel Diaz died in ICE custody on Jan. 14 at Camp East Montana, an immigration detention center at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso.<\/p>\n According to ICE, \u201ccontract security staff\u201d found Diaz unresponsive in his room, and they notified medical staff on site at around 3:35 p.m. The medical team arrived at 3:45 p.m., and Diaz was pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m.<\/p>\n The official cause of death is under investigation, but ICE said, \u201che died of a presumed suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n Diaz was arrested by ICE officers on Jan. 6 in Minneapolis for an immigration violation. ICE records claim Diaz illegally entered the U.S. on March 26, 2024, and an immigration judge ordered his removal on Aug. 26, 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cOn Jan. 12, ICE processed him as a final order of removal and detained him pending removal from the United States,\u201d ICE said in a news release.<\/p>\n This latest death comes after another migrant died at Camp East Montana on Jan. 3. ICE officials reported on Jan. 9 that 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos died after experiencing \u201cmedical distress,\u201d but recent reporting from The Washington Post and the Associated Press found that the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner was likely to classify Lunas Campos\u2019 death a homicide.<\/a><\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security released a statement after the reports claiming that Lunas Campos was attempting to \u201ctake his life\u201d and during the struggle with officers \u201cstopped breathing and lost consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n Both The Washington Post and the Associated Press interviewed an eyewitness at the facility, who claims that Lunas Campos died after he was handcuffed, tackled by guards and placed in a chokehold until he lost consciousness.<\/p>\n U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, who has been a vocal critic of the facility, reiterated her calls for Camp East Montana to be shut down.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo deaths in one month means conditions are worsening,\u201d she said in a post on X. \u201cCamp East Montana must be shutdown immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n Escobar also accused the facility of focusing on \u201cprofits instead of meeting basic standards.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, I was notified of yet another death at Camp East Montana.<\/p>\n This is the 3rd person who has died in the $1.24 billion privately-run facility that focuses on profits instead of meeting basic standards. https:\/\/t.co\/pZuXwfNS1T<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) January 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
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The official cause of death is under investigation, but ICE said, \u201che died of a presumed suicide\u201d
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This latest death comes after another migrant died at Camp East Montana on Jan. 3. ICE officials reported on Jan. 9 that 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos died after experiencing \u201cmedical distress,\u201d but recent reporting from The Washington Post and the Associated Press found that the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner was\u00a0likely to classify Lunas Campos\u2019 death a homicide<\/a>
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U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, who has been a vocal critic of the facility, reiterated her calls for Camp East Montana to be shut down<\/p>\n