Nicaraguan Man Dies at El Paso’s Camp East Montana, ICE Reports
A tragic incident has unfolded at the Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas, where a Nicaraguan man, Victor Manuel Diaz, aged 36, died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His death, reported on January 14, marks the third fatality at the facility.
Nicaraguan Man Dies at Camp East Montana
Victor Manuel Diaz was found unresponsive in his room by contract security staff at the Fort Bliss-area facility. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by on-site medical personnel and El Paso emergency services, they were unable to revive him. ICE has indicated that they presume his death to be a suicide, though the official cause remains under investigation.
Background and Circumstances
Prior to his death, Diaz was arrested by ICE in Minneapolis on January 6 and later transferred to Camp East Montana. His transfer followed a prior in absentia deportation order against him.
Related Incidents
This tragic event follows another death at the same facility earlier in January. Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old detainee, died on January 3. Reports suggest that Campos’s death may be classified as a homicide due to the circumstances surrounding his passing, which involved a violent struggle with ICE staff during a suicide intervention. Toxicology results from the ongoing investigation into Campos’s death are still pending.
Calls for Facility Closure
The recent fatalities have prompted significant concern over conditions at the Camp East Montana facility. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, has called for the detention center’s immediate closure. “This is the third person who has died in the $1.24 billion privately-run facility,” Escobar stated via social media, highlighting the alarming trend of two deaths within just one month. She emphasizes the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating conditions in the facility.
ICE’s Response
In a statement, ICE affirmed its dedication to ensuring safe and humane detention practices. Both fatalities are currently under investigation, as the agency aims to address the serious concerns raised by these incidents.
