The death of Cuban national Geraldo Lunas Campos while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at Camp East Montana in El Paso has been ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner.
An autopsy determined that Campos died from asphyxia caused by compression of his neck and torso, intensifying scrutiny of the detention facility following multiple recent detainee deaths. Deputy Medical Examiner Adam Gonzalez signed the report, which classified the manner of death as homicide.
NBC News reported that the autopsy documented abrasions on Campos’s chest and knees, along with hemorrhages on his neck. Independent forensic pathologist Lee Ann Grossberg told The Washington Post that a homicide ruling does not necessarily imply intent to kill, but rather that another person’s actions caused the death.
Conflicting accounts of the incident
ICE initially said in a January 9 release that Campos experienced “medical distress” before being pronounced dead. The Department of Homeland Security told CNN that Campos was attempting suicide and “violently resisted staff” who intervened…