Family Alleges Cuban Immigrant’s Death in ICE Custody in Legal Filing
A family is alleging that a Cuban immigrant, Geraldo Lunas Campos, died due to actions taken by guards at a federal detention facility in El Paso. They have filed a legal motion aimed at preventing the deportation of two witnesses who reportedly saw the events leading up to his death on January 3.
Incident Details
Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, died while under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at Camp East Montana, located within Fort Bliss military base, near the Texas-Mexico border. According to family members, a fellow detainee claimed that guards choked Mr. Lunas Campos during the incident.
Two detainees, Santos Jesus Flores and Antonio Ascon Frometa, witnessed critical moments. Flores allegedly heard Mr. Lunas Campos say, “I cannot breathe” in Spanish while struggling with guards. The family is concerned the deportation notices issued to these witnesses could obstruct their forthcoming wrongful-death lawsuit against the federal government.
Divergent Accounts of Death
ICE initially reported that Mr. Lunas Campos died after “experiencing medical distress.” However, a subsequent statement from a Department of Homeland Security official suggested he might have committed suicide during a struggle with security staff. The official claimed that he “stopped breathing and lost consciousness.”
In a recorded conversation with Mr. Lunas Campos’s daughter, an employee of the El Paso medical examiner’s office indicated the preliminary cause of death would be ruled as homicide due to asphyxia from neck and chest compression. The family’s attorney, Will Horowitz, argues that halting the witnesses’ deportations is essential for gathering important testimony.
Context of the Facility
Camp East Montana is the largest immigration detention center in the U.S. Currently holding around 2,700 detainees, it has been scrutinized for its conditions. Since its opening in August, three detainees have died, raising concerns about the treatment and safety of individuals in ICE custody. Reports from human rights organizations and statements from local representatives have criticized the conditions within the facility. In response, the Department of Homeland Security has denied claims of inhumane conditions, stating that the safety and well-being of detainees are top priorities.
Background of Geraldo Lunas Campos
Originally from Cuba, Mr. Lunas Campos entered the U.S. in 1996. He was arrested in Rochester, NY, in July 2022, and later transferred to the El Paso facility. His past convictions included charges such as criminal possession of a weapon and larceny.
His family, especially Jeanette Pagan Lopez, the mother of two of his children, continues to seek justice and accountability for his death. She expressed her frustration over the conditions at the facility and the impact on detainees’ lives, stating, “I need some kind of justice. I know I can’t bring him back.”
