The death of a 55-year-old Cuban detainee, Lunas Campos, while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is likely to be classified as a homicide, according to a phone call reviewed by The Washington Post. Campos died on January 3, 2026, at Camp Montana East in El Paso County, Texas, following a struggle with detention staff.
A representative from the medical examiner’s office informed Campos’s daughter that the preliminary cause of death has been determined to be asphyxia resulting from neck and chest compression. This indicates that significant pressure was applied, restricting his ability to breathe. The medical examiner is currently awaiting the results of a toxicology report but expects to officially categorize the manner of death as homicide.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, provided a different account. She stated that Campos had attempted to take his own life and had violently resisted the staff during the incident. According to McLaughlin, “During the ensuing struggle, Campos stopped breathing and lost consciousness. Medical staff was immediately called and responded. After repeated attempts to resuscitate him, EMTs declared him deceased on the scene.” She described the case as an “active investigation.”
Legal documents reveal that Campos had a criminal history, including convictions for aggravated assault with a weapon and first-degree sexual abuse involving a child under 11 years old. ICE reportedly arrested him in July 2025.
Santos Jesus Flores, an inmate who claimed to be in the same detention unit as Campos, recounted witnessing the struggle. Flores alleged that Campos was denied access to his medication and that the guards began to choke him, leading Campos to cry out, “No puedo respirar,” which translates to “I can’t breathe.” Flores reported, “He said, ‘I cannot breathe, I cannot breathe.’ After that, we don’t hear his voice anymore and that’s it.”
This incident marks the second death at the troubled Camp Montana East and the fourth death of an ICE detainee in 2026. The series of fatalities has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of detainees within the facility, which has faced numerous violations in the past.
As investigations continue into Campos’s death, advocates for detainees are calling for greater oversight and reform within ICE operations. The circumstances surrounding this tragic event highlight ongoing issues related to the treatment of individuals in detention and the urgent need for systemic change.
