BREAKING: Homicide Ruling in Geraldo Lunas Campos Death at Texas Detention Center

UPDATE: The tragic death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a father of two, has been ruled a homicide following an autopsy released by the county medical examiner’s office. This shocking revelation comes just days after Lunas Campos died while restrained by law enforcement at Camp East Montana in El Paso on January 3, 2023.

Witnesses reported that Lunas Campos became “unresponsive” during the incident, sparking outrage and demands for justice from his family. “He was being abused and beaten and choked to death,” stated Jeanette Pagan Lopez, a relative, to the New York Times shortly after the autopsy results emerged.

Initially, Homeland Security and federal authorities falsely claimed that Lunas Campos experienced medical distress, later suggesting suicide. However, the autopsy revealed burst blood vessels in his neck and eyelids, contradicting their narrative. A Department of Homeland Security official maintained that he “violently resisted” staff, but did not address the autopsy findings.

As the family seeks justice, they have petitioned a federal judge to halt the deportation of two witnesses at Camp East Montana who observed the struggle. Both individuals have since received deportation notices.

Opened in August 2022, Camp East Montana has been plagued by controversy, with reports of three deaths in custody so far. One of the deceased, Victor Manuel Diaz from Nicaragua, is classified as a “presumed suicide,” while another, Francisco Gaspar from Guatemala, died from liver disease.

Melissa M. Lope, Executive Director at Estrella del Paso, an immigrant rights organization, condemned the facility’s existence, stating, “Every day that Camp East Montana remains open, thousands of parents, children, and individuals fleeing violence and poverty are placed at risk of losing their lives for seeking survival.”

The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations declared Camp East Montana a “human and civil rights catastrophe,” citing numerous reports of abuse, medical neglect, and unsafe living conditions. A recent letter to ICE and Fort Bliss officials detailed these violations, including cases of severe physical abuse.

In a broader context, the New York Times reported that 32 people died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in 2025 alone, amid increased enforcement under the previous administration. December 2025 marked the deadliest month, with six deaths recorded.

Activists are mobilizing nationwide in response to the escalating crisis, with protests planned across the country on January 23. Demonstrators will be demanding justice for Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE agent, while also honoring Lunas Campos‘s memory.

The call to action is clear: communities are rising up to oppose the brutality of ICE and the systemic issues within detention centers. As public pressure mounts, the future of Camp East Montana hangs in the balance, with advocates insisting that it must be shut down immediately to prevent further tragedies.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.