ICE Detention Death in Texas Sparks National Outrage as Third Detainee Dies at Same Facility
In a troubling development, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man named Victor Manuel Diaz died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Camp East Montana detention facility near El Paso, Texas, marking the third confirmed death at the site in just weeks and prompting intensified scrutiny of conditions inside the sprawling immigration detention center.
Diaz was found unresponsive in his room at the facility on January 14, 2026, after being detained by ICE in Minneapolis and transferred to Texas for deportation proceedings. On-site medical staff and El Paso emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
Why this matters now: This latest death highlights growing concerns about the safety and oversight of immigration detention centers in the United States, coming shortly after other fatalities at the same facility and across ICE custody locations that critics say reflect systemic issues.
Inside Camp East Montana: What Happened to Victor Manuel Diaz
According to ICE officials, Diaz’s death is currently classified as a presumed suicide, though authorities say the full cause remains under investigation.
Diaz was taken into custody on January 6 during an enforcement action in Minneapolis and was awaiting his removal from the U.S. under an earlier deportation order.
Detention facility staff were the first to discover him unresponsive, and despite immediate medical efforts, he could not be revived. ICE has released statements reaffirming its commitment to the safe and humane detention of individuals, but details remain limited as investigators continue to review the circumstances.
A Pattern of Fatalities: Earlier Deaths at the Facility
Diaz’s death comes on the heels of another controversial death at the same detention site earlier this month. On January 3, 55-year-old Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos died while in ICE custody, also at Camp East Montana.
Initial statements from ICE described Campos’ death as resulting from a medical emergency. However, medical examiner officials and independent reports suggest his death may be ruled a homicide based on preliminary findings of asphyxia due to pressure on his neck and chest.
A fellow detainee claims he saw guards restraining Campos, who repeatedly said “I can’t breathe” before losing consciousness — a narrative that contradicts ICE’s official account and has fueled widespread concern.
Advocacy groups, including the ACLU, have since highlighted this case as evidence of dangerous conditions inside detention centers and renewed calls for immediate oversight and reform.
Calls for Accountability and Facility Closure
Lawmakers and civil rights advocates are responding strongly to the series of deaths at Camp East Montana. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) stated that two deaths in a single month at the same facility signal worsening conditions and urged authorities to shut down the privately run detention center, which cost over $1.2 billion to build.
The facility, located at the Fort Bliss Army base near El Paso, has been the subject of criticism for overcrowding, lack of transparency, and poor living conditions, according to immigrant rights groups and some detainees.
Both deaths remain under official investigation, and ICE has reiterated that it conducts reviews of every death in custody. However, advocates argue that ongoing patterns of fatalities demand far more urgent action and independent oversight.
Wider Context: Rising Deaths in Immigration Detention
The death of Victor Manuel Diaz at Camp East Montana is not an isolated incident. According to recent data, the number of deaths in ICE custody reached its highest levels in decades in 2025, including cases involving medical complications and suicide.
Deaths in custody have drawn heightened public attention as immigration enforcement increases, and as human rights organizations document worsening conditions within detention centers nationwide.
These trends have fueled calls from activists, lawmakers, and legal advocates for more transparency and accountability in how ICE manages detention facilities — particularly those operated by private contractors.
What This Means for Immigration Policy and Public Safety
The spate of recent deaths in ICE custody underscores deep tensions in U.S. immigration policy, enforcement practices, and the treatment of detainees. Detention centers like Camp East Montana have become flashpoints in debates over humane treatment, legal oversight, and enforcement priorities.
Critics point out that these deaths erode public trust and raise questions about how detainees’ medical needs, mental health concerns, and safety are being addressed. Supporters of stricter enforcement stress the complexity of managing large populations of detainees and the necessity of due process.
Regardless of perspective, the ongoing investigations and mounting pressure for transparency mean that policymakers and ICE leadership will likely face intense scrutiny in the days and weeks ahead.
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