When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at a Texas detention center, the agency stated that "staff observed him in a state of distress" and did not specify the cause of his death.

Nearly two weeks after that event, the Washington Post reported on Thursday that the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office will "likely" classify the recent death of a detainee at Camp East Montana as a homicide.

According to news reports, an employee of the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office informed Lunas Campos's daughter this week that, subject to the results of the toxicology report, the office is likely to classify the death as a homicide.

The report indicates that the preliminary cause of death is asphyxiation due to compression of the neck and chest. While awaiting the toxicology report, the employee stated, “Our doctor believes we will classify the cause of death as a homicide.” In other words, Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban immigrant, died after a struggle with detention personnel, according to an eyewitness account and an internal ICE document reviewed by The Post. This new version casts doubt on the statement by the Department of Homeland Security, which reported that Lunas Campos died after attempting suicide. “Campos violently resisted security personnel and continued to attempt to take his own life,” the statement said. “During the struggle, Campos stopped breathing and lost consciousness. Medical personnel were immediately called and arrived at the scene. After repeated attempts at resuscitation, paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.” However, the spokesperson declined to provide further documentation and described the matter as an “active investigation.” If confirmed as a homicide, Camp East Montana, a colossal makeshift tent encampment on the Mexican border, would be subject to intense scrutiny.where migrants have reported deplorable conditions and physical abuse, and where ICE inspectors themselves have cited dozens of violations of federal detention standards.

Lunas Campos's death also comes amid national outrage over the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week, raising questions about the training and oversight of ICE agents.

At least four people are estimated to have died while in ICE custody in 2026. All of the deaths occurred in the first 10 days of the year, three of them announced between January 9 and 10.

While 2025 was the deadliest year for ICE detainees in two decades: at least 30 people died while held in migrant detention centers, the highest number since 2004, the year after the agency was created.