ICE Detainee's Death Ruled a Homicide After Autopsy Reveals Signs of Sudden, Violent Compression.
The death of an immigrant detainee at an El Paso facility has been ruled a homicide by medical examiner. Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, originally from Cuba, died Jan. 3 at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Camp East Montana facility at Fort Bliss due to asphyxia caused by neck and torso compression.
According to the report obtained by NBC News, Lunas Campos had multiple convictions over the years since entering the country in 1996, including first-degree sexual abuse involving a child under the age of 11 and unlawful possession of a weapon. On January 3rd, he was reported to have experienced medical distress but security staff responded quickly, leading ICE to claim that they saved his life.
However, an autopsy has revealed signs of sudden and violent compression on Lunas Campos' body, including scattered superficial abrasions, hemorrhage in muscles and connective tissues on the neck, and smaller hemorrhaging on the eyelids and skin. The medical examiner concluded that Lunas Campos was witnessed to become unresponsive while being physically restrained by law enforcement.
ICE initially stated that Lunas Campos had attempted to take his own life but later claimed that he violently resisted security staff during a struggle for self-harm. However, the revised explanation has sparked controversy over the handling of Lunas Campos' death and potential medical neglect at the facility.
Camp East Montana is the single largest ICE detention facility in the country with almost 3,000 detainees, with 80% having no prior criminal record. As per a statement from Department of Homeland Security, the facility has maintained higher standards of care than most prisons while also providing access to proper medical care.
However, concerns have been raised about the rising number of detainee deaths in ICE facilities nationwide and potential neglect by staff members, which remains an active investigation by the agency.
The death of an immigrant detainee at an El Paso facility has been ruled a homicide by medical examiner. Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, originally from Cuba, died Jan. 3 at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Camp East Montana facility at Fort Bliss due to asphyxia caused by neck and torso compression.
According to the report obtained by NBC News, Lunas Campos had multiple convictions over the years since entering the country in 1996, including first-degree sexual abuse involving a child under the age of 11 and unlawful possession of a weapon. On January 3rd, he was reported to have experienced medical distress but security staff responded quickly, leading ICE to claim that they saved his life.
However, an autopsy has revealed signs of sudden and violent compression on Lunas Campos' body, including scattered superficial abrasions, hemorrhage in muscles and connective tissues on the neck, and smaller hemorrhaging on the eyelids and skin. The medical examiner concluded that Lunas Campos was witnessed to become unresponsive while being physically restrained by law enforcement.
ICE initially stated that Lunas Campos had attempted to take his own life but later claimed that he violently resisted security staff during a struggle for self-harm. However, the revised explanation has sparked controversy over the handling of Lunas Campos' death and potential medical neglect at the facility.
Camp East Montana is the single largest ICE detention facility in the country with almost 3,000 detainees, with 80% having no prior criminal record. As per a statement from Department of Homeland Security, the facility has maintained higher standards of care than most prisons while also providing access to proper medical care.
However, concerns have been raised about the rising number of detainee deaths in ICE facilities nationwide and potential neglect by staff members, which remains an active investigation by the agency.
... can't believe they're trying to spin his death like he resisted arrest or something, it's so obvious what really happened 
. 3k people in a facility meant for 1/10th that amount and you'd think they could handle someone having some kind of mental health episode without ending up dead 
. and the fact that ICE is claiming they're doing better than prisons when clearly they're not is just, like, wow 
... it's all so frustrating 
... also, think about all these other detainees in this facility who are just sittin there with no records and still gettin neglected 
they deserve better than to die in a place where they're being "saved" but it sounds more like they were abused and mistreated 
...i hope whoever did this gets held accountable 
and the facility needs serious changes ASAP 
first they say he took his own life then suddenly he resisted security staff...can't we just have the truth? 
3,000 detainees in one facility is crazy 
anyway this investigation has to be taken super seriously 
. The fact that security staff responded quickly and supposedly saved his life but then an autopsy shows signs of violent compression makes me wonder what really went down 
. And 80% of detainees at Camp East Montana have no prior record, it just doesn't add up 
. And what about the staff who were present during this incident? Are they being held accountable for their actions or is it just business as usual? This raises so many questions and it's not like we're getting any answers from ICE 
. We can't just keep ignoring the rising number of detainee deaths and hope it goes away 
. Something needs to change ASAP, this is just unacceptable 
.
? That's not rehabilitation, that's torture 
.