Detainees Allege Cuban Man Slammed to Ground Before ICE Custody Death

Sworn declarations claim guards choked and asphyxiated Geraldo Lunas Campos at Texas detention facility

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:55pm

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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 the use of force by guards at immigration detention facilities, especially given the high-profile deaths of several detainees at this particular facility in the past year. It also highlights the challenges faced by immigrant families seeking accountability and justice for loved ones who die in custody.

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 telling him to '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. The El Paso County medical examiner later determined that Campos died from 'asphyxia due to neck and torso compression'.

  • Campos was detained by ICE in July 2025 during an enforcement action in New York.
  • Campos died in ICE custody on January 3, 2026.
  • An autopsy report was released last week determining Campos' death was a homicide by asphyxiation.

The players

Geraldo Lunas Campos

A Cuban immigrant who died in ICE custody on January 3, 2026 at the age of 42.

Henry Bolano

A detainee at the Texas immigration detention facility who submitted a sworn declaration alleging he heard Campos pleading for his medication and being asphyxiated by guards.

Santo Jesus Flores

Another detainee at the Texas facility who submitted a sworn declaration alleging he heard a 'struggle ensue' that sounded like Campos being slammed to the ground.

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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 judge will likely hear further arguments and evidence in the case.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment of detainees and use of force by guards at immigration detention facilities, especially given the high number of deaths that have occurred at this particular facility. It underscores the need for greater transparency, accountability, and independent oversight to protect the rights and wellbeing of those in custody.