The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an inquiry into the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban national who died on January 3 while under the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas. This was confirmed on Thursday by the agency's acting director during a congressional hearing.
According to a report from Newsweek, Todd Lyons disclosed this information during a budget hearing of the House of Representatives concerning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lyons stated, "Once we received that information, we proceeded to refer the case, which is now in the hands of the FBI," noting that he could not discuss ongoing investigations.
Lunas Campos passed away at the Camp East Montana detention center located on the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas. The El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide by asphyxiation due to compression of the neck and torso.
This finding starkly contrasts with the official narrative from the Department of Homeland Security, which claimed the detainee had attempted suicide and that officers promptly provided emergency medical assistance.
Conflicting Accounts and Eyewitness Testimonies
Witnesses told the Associated Press that Lunas Campos, who was already handcuffed, was restrained on the ground by at least five guards. One of the guards allegedly choked him by placing an arm around his neck. According to these accounts, the detainee pleaded, "I can't breathe," before losing consciousness. ICE characterized the event as a "spontaneous use of force" to prevent self-harm.
During the hearing, Texas Democrat Representative Veronica Escobar questioned Lyons about the status of the investigation. Escobar also expressed her intention to further discuss with the acting director the alleged falsehoods told by detention center staff regarding the circumstances of Lunas Campos's death.
Lunas Campos arrived in the United States in 1996 amidst a wave of Cuban rafters and spent more than two decades in Rochester, New York, where he was a father of four. He was detained by ICE on July 14, 2025, and transferred to Camp East Montana on September 6 of the same year. A deportation order had been in place since 2005 but was never executed due to a lack of travel documents from the Cuban government.
Broader Concerns Over Detention Center Conditions
His death was one of three recorded at Camp East Montana within just 44 days, from December 2025 to January 2026, sparking protests from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas and other organizations demanding the immediate closure of the center. A federal judge even halted the deportations of witnesses who saw his death, and the family filed a lawsuit demanding accountability.
The case underscores a growing alarm over the conditions in immigration detention centers. By April 15, 2026, there had already been 16 immigrant deaths under ICE custody that year, compared to 33 in 2025—the deadliest year in over two decades—and 11 in 2024. Camp East Montana, the largest immigrant detention center in the United States with a capacity for 5,000 people, has been described by activists as a "black hole" due to reports of beatings, denial of medical care, and deplorable sanitary conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About ICE Detention Issues
What led to the FBI's involvement in Geraldo Lunas Campos's death?
The FBI became involved after the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Lunas Campos's death as a homicide, contradicting the DHS's account of a suicide attempt.
How have activists responded to deaths in ICE detention centers?
Activists, including the ACLU of Texas, have protested and called for the closure of detention centers like Camp East Montana, citing inhumane conditions and multiple deaths.
What were the circumstances surrounding Lunas Campos's detention?
Lunas Campos was detained by ICE in July 2025 and transferred to Camp East Montana in September, despite a deportation order from 2005 that was never carried out due to a lack of Cuban travel documents.