• The El Paso County Medical Examiner has ruled the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos a homicide.
• Witnesses report he was restrained by guards when he stopped breathing.
• Camps reported at least three deaths at Camp East Montana within a month.
• Officials initially stated he attempted suicide, altering their account after the autopsy.
• Calls for investigations and facility shutdowns are growing following these incidents.

The El Paso County Medical Examiner has ruled the death of Cuban migrant Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, a homicide. This decision came after an autopsy report indicated that he died due to "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression" following a struggle with guards on January 3 at a Texas immigration detention facility, Camp East Montana, according to Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

Witness accounts have described that Campos was handcuffed when he was restrained by at least five guards, which is reported to have led to him losing consciousness. The autopsy highlighted notable signs of struggle, including abrasions and hemorrhages on his neck, indicating physical restraint where pressure might have led to his asphyxiation, reports state Reuters and CBS News.

This incident at Camp East Montana was one of at least three reported deaths at the facility within a short period. Another immigrant, Victor Manuel Diaz, is reported to have died under what ICE labeled a "presumed suicide," adding to concerns regarding the facility's conditions and treatment of detainees, according to CBS News and NPR.

ICE's initial comments suggested that Campos had attempted suicide and resisted staff efforts to assist him, but these narratives changed after the autopsy findings were released. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security remarked on his criminal background as part of agencies’ efforts to contextualize the case. His criminal history includes a 2003 felony conviction for sexual abuse of a minor, which has been used to emphasize governmental concerns about safety, according to CBS News and NPR.

Calls for accountability and the investigation of the facility's operations are escalating, with local representatives urging for evidence preservation and potential facility shutdowns. Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar specifically called for a termination of the contract with the private firm operating Camp East Montana, emphasizing the need for greater oversight in light of the recent tragedies, according to Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.