Cuban Immigrant Dies in Texas Detention: Conflicting Accounts Raise Concerns

Fri Jan 16 2026 23:40:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The death of Geraldo Lunas Campos during an altercation with guards in a Texas immigration detention facility has sparked inquiries into conditions within these institutions, with initial reports conflicted by witness accounts.

In a tragic incident at a Texas immigration detention facility, 55-year-old Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos died after an altercation with guards. While officials initially stated he attempted suicide, witnesses assert that he was handcuffed and placed in a chokehold. The local medical examiner's preliminary report indicates the death may be classified as a homicide, raising concerns about the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. Lunas Campos's family seeks justice and clarity regarding the circumstances of his death.

WASHINGTON (RTW News) — A Cuban immigrant, Geraldo Lunas Campos, died in a Texas immigration detention facility during an altercation with guards, with local officials indicating his death is likely to be ruled a homicide.

Authorities provided conflicting narratives surrounding the January 3 incident, suggesting Lunas Campos was attempting suicide while staff attempted to intervene. However, a witness recounted that he was handcuffed, tackled by guards, and held in a chokehold until he lost consciousness. The preliminary autopsy report from the El Paso County Medical Examiner indicated asphyxia due to chest and neck compression as the cause of death.

The case has intensified scrutiny on the treatment of detainees as the government continues to detain immigrants in significant numbers across various facilities, including Camp East Montana, where Lunas Campos was held.

Initially, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced his death without mention of the altercation, later amending their account to suggest a suicide attempt. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, Campos violently resisted the security staff and continued to attempt to take his life. However, this account is contradicted by detainee Santos Jesús Flores, who claims to have witnessed the event through the window of his cell.

Flores described Lunas Campos as saying, he couldn’t breathe just before the ordeal escalated, stating that multiple guards restrained and suffocated him. He criticized the detention center for abuse toward detainees.

Law enforcement customs indicate that the facility where Lunas Campos died is undergoing investigation. There are concerns regarding the proper protocols followed by the guards, particularly after a similar pattern observed in previous restraint-related deaths. Dr. Victor Weedn, a forensic pathologist, indicated that the preliminary ruling of homicide suggests that Lunas Campos's death was directly caused by the actions of the guards.

Further complicating the matter is the fact that Lunas Campos was among the first detainees sent to Camp Montana East, which has garnered criticism due to its haste and lack of experienced management. ICE claimed he became problematic during medication lines, leading to segregation and his subsequent death.

Family members, particularly his former partner Jeanette Pagan-Lopez, demand justice and clarity regarding the incident. She has expressed frustration with ICE’s communication and is seeking to fund the return of Lunas Campos's body for a funeral. Pagan-Lopez described him as a caring father, indicating that the family was in touch shortly before his death.

“I just want justice, and his body here,” she said, highlighting the family’s enduring pain and need for answers regarding the treatment of their loved one.