ICE Detainee's Death in Texas Ruled Homicide by Autopsy

Autopsy Confirms Homicide in ICE Custody Death

The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban immigrant held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in El Paso, Texas, has been officially ruled a homicide. An autopsy report from the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death to be 'asphyxia due to neck and torso compression'. Lunas Campos died on January 3 at the Camp East Montana detention facility.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

Initial statements from ICE on January 9 indicated that Lunas Campos had died after 'experiencing medical distress'. However, the agency later amended its account, stating he was attempting suicide and staff were trying to save him. This narrative contrasts sharply with a witness account reported by The Associated Press, which claimed Lunas Campos died after being handcuffed, tackled by guards, and placed in a chokehold until he lost consciousness.

The autopsy report, overseen by Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Adam Gonzalez, noted that Lunas Campos became 'unresponsive while being physically restrained by law enforcement'. Forensic findings included:

• Abrasions on his chest and knees
• Hemorrhages on his neck
• Petechial hemorrhages in the eyelids and neck skin, consistent with asphyxia

These findings, according to a forensic pathologist who reviewed the report for the AP, 'tend to support' the conclusion that asphyxia caused the death and suggest pressure on the body.

Detainee's Background and Broader Context

Geraldo Lunas Campos, a father of four, had resided in Rochester, New York, for nearly two decades before his arrest in July 2025. He had been detained at Camp East Montana since September 6. Medical records indicated he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had antidepressant medication in his system. He was also a registered sex offender and convicted felon.

Lunas Campos's death marks the third fatality at Camp East Montana and one of four deaths recorded in Texas ICE detention centers within the past two months. This incident adds to a concerning trend, as 2025 was reported as ICE's deadliest year in over two decades, with 32 detainee deaths.