The death of an illegal immigrant in a Texas detention camp is expected to be ruled a homicide after a medical examiner determined asphyxia as the cause of death. Gerald Lunas Campos, 55, died on January 3 at the Camp East Montana facility, the largest ICE detention centre in the US.
A fellow detainee claimed he witnessed guards choking Campos, who repeatedly said 'I can't breathe' in Spanish. The medical examiner's preliminary findings support this, citing asphyxia due to neck and chest compression. A toxicology report is pending, but the manner of death is likely to be classified as homicide.
However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged Campos died after attempting suicide. Assistant Secretary McLaughlin stated Campos 'violently resisted' staff and stopped breathing during a struggle. ICE said staff observed him in distress and called medical personnel, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Campos, a Cuban national and convicted sex offender, had been arrested in New York in July 2025. His criminal history included first-degree sexual abuse of a child, aggravated assault, and firearm offences. He was in a segregation unit after becoming 'disruptive' on the day of his death.
This is the second detainee death at Camp East Montana and one of four nationwide in 2026. In 2025, at least 30 people died in detention, the highest annual count in 20 years. The deaths come amid President Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown and increased deportation efforts.
