Deaths In ICE Detention Facilities Escalate

Two deaths at the Camp East Montana facility in January 2026 continue a troubling trend of rising fatalities in ICE detention centers across Texas.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Since the beginning of 2026, the Camp East Montana temporary holding facility at Fort Bliss has recorded several deaths, making it one of the deadliest holding centers in the country. Two people have died at the facility thus far this month, following a third death in December 2025. The January 2026 deaths continued the rise in fatalities seen in 2025, which marked a 20-year high for deaths in ICE detention, coinciding with a 65 percent jump in the national detention population.

Why it matters

The escalating death toll in ICE detention facilities, particularly in Texas, has raised serious concerns about the conditions and medical care provided to detainees. Human rights groups have alleged that medical neglect has played a role in several of the deaths, highlighting broader issues of oversight and accountability in the immigration detention system.

The details

The latest deaths at the Camp East Montana facility include 36-year-old Nicaraguan national Victor Manuel Diaz, who died on January 14, and 55-year-old Cuban national Geraldo Lunas Campos, who died on January 3. The El Paso County Medical Examiner preliminarily classified Campos's death as a homicide caused by asphyxia from guards compressing his neck and torso. ICE maintains that the incident happened during an intervention for a suicide attempt, where the detainee violently resisted and that the staff tried to save him.

  • In January 2026, two people have died at the Camp East Montana facility.
  • In December 2025, a third death occurred at the Camp East Montana facility.
  • In 2025, there was a 20-year high for deaths in ICE detention, coinciding with a 65 percent jump in the national detention population.

The players

Camp East Montana

A 'soft-sided' temporary holding facility at Fort Bliss that has recorded several deaths, making it one of the deadliest holding centers in the country.

Victor Manuel Diaz

A 36-year-old Nicaraguan national who died at the Camp East Montana facility on January 14, 2026.

Geraldo Lunas Campos

A 55-year-old Cuban national who died at the Camp East Montana facility on January 3, 2026. The El Paso County Medical Examiner preliminarily classified his death as a homicide caused by asphyxia from guards compressing his neck and torso.

Acquisition Logistics LLC

A contractor with no prior experience in corrections or detention management that operates the Camp East Montana facility. In 2025, the company received a $1.24 billion contract from the Department of Defense.

GEO Group

A private prison corporation that has secured significant contracts with the government through the Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) in Texas, generating hundreds of millions in low-risk revenue.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The DHS Office of Inspector General is now investigating allegations of excessive force in the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos.

The takeaway

The escalating death toll in ICE detention facilities, particularly in Texas, has raised serious concerns about the conditions and medical care provided to detainees. This crisis highlights the need for greater oversight, accountability, and reform in the immigration detention system, as well as the potential financial incentives that may be driving the expansion of detention facilities.