Family of Cuban Who Died in ICE Custody Files Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit

The relatives of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant who died on January 3 while in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a detention facility in El Paso, Texas, have filed a lawsuit seeking over a million dollars in damages. The lawsuit targets four guards and the companies responsible for operating the facility.

This legal action, unveiled by The Washington Post on July 2, was filed in a state court in El Paso County. It alleges that the agents caused the Cuban's death by violently restraining him and that the companies managing the center failed to adequately train and supervise the staff. The lawsuit also accuses them of neglecting Lunas Campos' medical needs related to his mental health condition.

The lawsuit names the four guards involved, Acquisition Logistics— the company running Camp East Montana— Akima Global Services, the security staff employer, and Nana Regional Corp., Akima's parent company.

The Medical Examiner's Findings

A central element of the case is the autopsy carried out by the Office of the Medical Examiner in El Paso County. It concluded that Lunas Campos died from asphyxiation caused by compression of the neck and torso, classifying the death as a homicide.

This finding directly contradicts the account provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Their spokesperson, Lauren Bis, stated that the Cuban "attempted to take his own life" and that "security personnel intervened immediately to save his life."

Allegations of Negligence

However, a cellmate told The Washington Post that on the day Lunas Campos died, facility staff repeatedly refused to give him the medication he needed, leading to the fatal confrontation.

According to the lawsuit, four guards restrained him face-down. The document asserts that even after Lunas Campos shouted that he couldn't breathe, "the guards continued to hold him on the ground, applying pressure to his neck and chest until his body went limp."

Lunas Campos suffered from bipolar disorder and anxiety, relying on antidepressants even before his detention in September 2025. He had been arrested by ICE agents two months earlier in New York.

Medical Oversight and Investigation

Medical records compiled by the Medical Examiner's Office, contained in a 279-page file, describe a series of alleged oversights during his detention. Lunas Campos reported early on that he wasn't receiving his treatment properly; in November 2025, he went four days without his medication, and three months before his death, he was found in solitary confinement with a sheet tied around his neck.

Medical staff considered transferring him to a specialized facility for psychiatric care, but this recommendation was never followed through.

The investigation into the case remains open. The FBI took over the case in January, and ICE's acting director, Todd Lyons, confirmed to Congress on April 16 that the case had been referred to the federal agency. Furthermore, in March, DHS terminated the contract with Acquisition Logistics and appointed a new company to manage Camp East Montana.

Increasing Deaths in ICE Custody

As part of the legal proceedings, a federal judge temporarily halted the deportation of two migrants who witnessed Lunas Campos' death to ensure they could testify as witnesses.

The Cuban's death is part of a rising number of fatalities in U.S. immigration custody. According to The Washington Post, at least 20 people have died this year in ICE detention centers, a number that could become the highest recorded in a single year.

When asked by the American newspaper, DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis reiterated that "this is an ongoing investigation and more details will be released soon. ICE investigates the circumstances of all deaths that occur in custody."

Due to these deaths, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and allied organizations filed a federal class-action lawsuit against ICE in early June over conditions at Camp East Montana.