A third death at Camp East Montana highlights ongoing concerns over detainee safety in ICE custody.
Story Highlights
- A 36-year-old Nicaraguan man, Victor Manuel Diaz, died in ICE custody.
- This marks the third death at Camp East Montana within a short timeframe.
- ICE has classified Diaz’s death as a presumed suicide, but investigations are ongoing.
- Calls for the closure of the privately-run facility are intensifying.
Concerns Over Detainee Safety at Camp East Montana
Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old man from Nicaragua, was discovered unresponsive in his room at Camp East Montana, a privately-operated ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas. Despite immediate medical intervention by on-site staff and El Paso EMS, he was pronounced dead on January 14, 2026. This incident marks the third death at the facility, which has become a flashpoint for criticism regarding detainee safety and facility conditions.
The circumstances of Diaz’s death are currently classified as a presumed suicide by ICE, yet the official cause remains under investigation. This tragic event follows the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old detainee, earlier in the month on January 3. Campos’ death is pending toxicology results, which may lead to a homicide ruling, highlighting potential deficiencies in the facility’s safety and oversight measures.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCAmRANt-j0
Political and Public Reactions Intensify
With the third death in a short period, political figures such as Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) are vocally demanding the closure of Camp East Montana, citing deteriorating conditions. Escobar emphasizes that the facility, with a price tag of $1.24 billion, is failing to ensure detainee safety, a sentiment echoed by several advocacy groups. The repeated fatalities have ignited broader discussions about the privatization of immigration detention centers and their operational integrity.
ICE, on the other hand, maintains its commitment to “safe and humane detention,” asserting that proper protocols are in place. However, the deaths have raised questions about the adequacy of staff training, medical response, and overall facility management, prompting a closer examination of the practices at Camp East Montana and similar facilities nationwide.
Implications for Immigration Detention Policies
The recent events at Camp East Montana are likely to have significant short- and long-term implications for U.S. immigration detention policies. In the short term, there is increased scrutiny on the facility’s operational practices, with potential investigations into staff conduct and medical procedures. In the long run, these incidents could catalyze policy reforms aimed at improving oversight and accountability, particularly in privately-run detention centers.
A Nicaraguan man died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last week at the Camp East Montana detention facility, marking the third death reported at the site. https://t.co/xFHs1dCTi9
— KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) January 19, 2026
As investigations continue, the families of the deceased detainees, current detainees, and advocacy groups are all deeply affected, calling for justice and accountability. The broader debate about the role of privatization in immigration detention remains a contentious issue, with renewed calls for transparency and reform in detention facility operations.
Sources:
ICE reports death of Nicaraguan man at Camp East Montana in El Paso
Man detained in Minneapolis dies in ICE custody in Texas
