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Cuban detainee dies from asphyxiation during restraint at Fort Bliss, ruled homicide

Jun 11, 2026 · El Paso, TX, Cuba

Cuban detainee dies from asphyxiation during restraint at Fort Bliss, ruled homicide

Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban man and father of four, died on January 3, 2026, at Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss in El Paso during physical restraint by law enforcement. Witnesses in nearby cells heard guards shove Lunas Campos into his cell after he requested his medication during nurse rounds, followed by punching and slamming sounds. Lunas Campos screamed 'I can't breathe!' and 'You're suffocating me,' with his last words being 'I cannot breathe, may God bless me.' The El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide on January 21, 2026, determining the cause was asphyxia from neck and torso compression, with evidence of neck hemorrhages, petechial hemorrhages in the eyelids, and abrasions on his chest and knees. ICE's account of events changed multiple times, initially claiming medical distress before stating staff used force while restraining him. A federal GAO report found that the facility's contractor failed to provide required use of force and death reports to ICE, and evidence associated with the incident was missing or destroyed.

Timeline

Jun 11, 2026Federal GAO report finds facility contractor failed to provide required use of force and death reports to ICE; evidence associated with incident found missing or destroyed
Jan 21, 2026El Paso County Medical Examiner rules death a homicide, determining cause was asphyxia from neck and torso compression
Jan 3, 2026Geraldo Lunas Campos dies from asphyxiation during restraint at Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss after requesting medication; witnesses report guards punching and slamming him into cell

Sources

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