A Cuban migrant detained at an immigration center in Texas passed away while in solitary confinement after an incident with guards, according to an autopsy report revealed on Wednesday, which classified the death as a homicide. Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old father of four, died on January 3 following a confrontation with the guards. Initial reports from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suggested that Lunas Campos was trying to harm himself, and staff intervened to save him. However, a witness disclosed to The Associated Press that Lunas Campos was restrained by at least five guards, with one applying pressure to his neck until he lost consciousness.
The autopsy report from the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office indicated signs of a struggle on Lunas Campos’s body, such as chest and knee abrasions, along with neck hemorrhages. Dr. Adam Gonzalez, the deputy medical examiner, concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia due to compression on the neck and torso. The report mentioned that witnesses observed Lunas Campos becoming unresponsive during physical restraint by law enforcement.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat representing El Paso, urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE director Todd M. Lyons to brief Congress on the recent deaths at the detention facility. Escobar emphasized the need to preserve all evidence and halt deportation efforts for potential witnesses. She reiterated her call for the closure of Camp East Montana and termination of the contract with the overseeing corporation.
ICE’s initial narrative did not mention a confrontation with guards and stated that Lunas Campos was moved to a segregated area after displaying disruptive behavior. The agency reported that medical staff responded to his distress in the segregation unit and initiated life-saving measures before his death. The autopsy report made no reference to a suicide attempt. The guards present during the incident have not been confirmed as government employees or private contractors.
Following the release of the final autopsy report, which classified the death as a homicide, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin revised the previous account, stating that Lunas Campos had attempted suicide and guards intervened to assist him. The medical examiner’s determination of homicide is crucial for potential legal actions against the guards involved. The context that Lunas Campos died on an army base may limit local officials’ jurisdiction for investigation.
Lunas Campos was among the initial detainees transferred to Camp East Montana in September after being arrested in New York due to criminal convictions. ICE noted that his eligibility for removal was based on prior convictions. Records from New York courts revealed Lunas Campos’s convictions for sexual contact with a minor and attempting to sell a controlled substance, resulting in jail time and supervision. DHS emphasized Lunas Campos’s criminal background post-autopsy report release.
ICE reported two additional deaths at Camp East Montana, one due to medical reasons and another presumed suicide. The agency identified the deceased immigrants as Francisco Gaspar-Andres and Victor Manuel Diaz, highlighting the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The contract for Camp East Montana was awarded to a private contractor without prior experience in corrections facility management.
The developments surrounding the deaths at the immigration detention facility have raised concerns and led to calls for transparency and accountability regarding the treatment of detainees in federal custody.
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