Detainees Allege Cuban Man Died After Being Slammed to Ground in ICE Custody

Sworn declarations claim Geraldo Lunas Campos pleaded for asthma medication before his death, which was ruled a homicide

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:31pm

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Several detainees at a Texas immigration detention facility have submitted sworn declarations alleging they heard a Cuban immigrant, Geraldo Lunas Campos, pleading for his asthma medication shortly before hearing what sounded like guards slamming him to the ground. Campos died in ICE custody on January 3, and an autopsy ruled his death a homicide due to asphyxiation. Attorneys for Campos' family have filed an emergency petition to prevent alleged witnesses from being deported.

Why it matters

This case raises serious concerns about the treatment of detainees and potential use of excessive force in immigration detention facilities, which have faced ongoing scrutiny over detainee deaths and allegations of abuse. The sworn statements from other detainees contradict the official DHS account and could shed light on the circumstances surrounding Campos' death.

The details

According to the sworn declarations, detainees Henry Bolano and Santo Jesus Flores said they heard Campos ask guards for his asthma medication, with one guard responding "Shut up or we're going to make you faint." Flores said he then heard a "struggle ensue" that sounded like "the slamming of a person's body against the floor or the wall," and Bolano wrote that he heard Campos say "Let go of me. You're asphyxiating me" before falling silent. DHS has not responded to a request for comment on the detainees' statements.

  • Geraldo Lunas Campos died in ICE custody on January 3, 2026.
  • An autopsy report released last week determined Campos' death was a homicide due to asphyxiation.

The players

Geraldo Lunas Campos

A Cuban immigrant who died in ICE custody on January 3, 2026, with his death ruled a homicide due to asphyxiation.

Henry Bolano

A detainee at the Texas immigration detention facility who submitted a sworn declaration alleging he heard Campos pleading for his asthma medication and then heard what sounded like guards slamming him to the ground.

Santo Jesus Flores

A detainee at the Texas immigration detention facility who submitted a sworn declaration alleging he heard a "struggle ensue" that sounded like "the slamming of a person's body against the floor or the wall" after Campos asked for his medication.

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What they’re saying

“The guard then said, 'Shut up or we're going to make you faint.' The last thing I heard was Geraldo speak in a voice that sounded like he couldn't breathe. He said, 'Let go of me. You're asphyxiating me.'”

— Henry Bolano, Detainee

“I heard Geraldo scream that he could not breathe. I could hear them trying to revive him, but they could not keep him alive.”

— Santo Jesus Flores, Detainee

What’s next

Attorneys for the Campos family have filed an emergency petition to prevent alleged witnesses from being deported, which was granted by a federal judge.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of detainees and potential use of excessive force in immigration detention facilities, which have faced scrutiny over detainee deaths and abuse allegations. The sworn statements from other detainees contradict the official DHS account and could shed light on the circumstances surrounding Campos' death.