The family of a Cuban migrant who died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the operators of a Texas detention facility, alleging that staff actions contributed to his death.
According to court documents filed this week, the family of 55-year-old Geraldo Lunas Campos is seeking damages from the operators and personnel associated with Camp East Montana, where Campos died in January while being held in federal immigration custody.
The lawsuit alleges that facility staff were inadequately trained and supervised, resulting in circumstances that led to Campos' death. The legal action comes months after conflicting accounts emerged regarding the incident.
Campos, a Cuban national, died while detained at the facility in January. Initial statements described the incident as a medical emergency. However, subsequent reports indicated that authorities later classified the death as a homicide, prompting further scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the case.
An ICE detainee death report released in February stated that force was used while staff attempted to prevent Campos from harming himself. The report maintained that personnel intervened after observing behavior that raised concerns about self-harm.
However, findings from the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office identified the cause of death as "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression," according to records cited in the lawsuit.
Attorneys representing Campos' family argue that the medical findings contradict the government's account and warrant civil liability against those responsible for operating and overseeing the facility.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has disputed the family's allegations and continues to maintain that staff members were attempting to prevent Campos from injuring himself.
"ICE takes seriously the health and safety of all those detained in our custody," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. "This is still an active investigation, and more details are forthcoming."
As of publication, the contractor responsible for operating Camp East Montana had not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
The case adds to ongoing debate surrounding conditions inside U.S. immigration detention facilities and the use of force by detention personnel. The lawsuit is expected to proceed through federal court while authorities continue investigating the circumstances of Campos' death.