In brief
Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant, died on January 3rd at a Texas immigration detention facility after an altercation with guards. An autopsy revealed he suffered asphyxia caused by neck and torso compression, with officials initially claiming he was attempting suicide. Witnesses contradicted this narrative, indicating negligent use of force by staff led to his death. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to the findings that called into question the conduct of the guards involved.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Cuban migrant held in solitary confinement at an immigration detention facility in Texas died after guards held him down and he stopped breathing, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday that ruled the death a homicide.
Geraldo Lunas Campos died Jan. 3 following an altercation with guards. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the 55-year-old father of four was attempting suicide, and the staff at Camp East Montana tried to save him.
However, a witness told The Associated Press last week that Lunas Campos was handcuffed as at least five guards held him down, with one putting an arm around his neck and squeezing until he was unconscious.
The autopsy report by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office found Lunas Campos’ body showed signs of a struggle, including abrasions on his chest and knees. He also had hemorrhages on his neck, with Dr. Adam Gonzalez concluding that the cause of death was asphyxia caused by neck and torso compression.
The report indicated that during the struggle, witnesses saw Lunas Campos “become unresponsive while being physically restrained by law enforcement.” Although it did not detail the events that occurred, it noted evidence of neck, head, and torso injuries related to physical restraint.
Dr. Victor Weedn, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy report for AP, stated that the presence of petechiae in the eyes bolsters the conclusion of asphyxia as the cause of death.
Moreover, the autopsy revealed that Lunas Campos had prescription antidepressants and antihistamines in his system, highlighting his history of bipolar disorder and anxiety, although it did not support the claims of a suicide attempt.
The Department of Homeland Security is yet to respond to the autopsy findings. ICE's earlier statements about the incident did not mention an altercation with guards but suggested Lunas Campos had become disruptive before officials moved him to a segregated area.
Lunas Campos was one of the first detainees at Camp Montana East, sent there in selection after his arrest by ICE in July due to convictions that made him eligible for removal. He had previously been part of a wave of Cuban immigrants seeking refuge in the U.S., having arrived legally in 1996.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of detainees and the protocols followed in immigration detention facilities across the country.
