Evidence Destroyed or Lost in Death of ICE Detainee That Was Ruled a Homicide

Key Points:

• A GAO audit revealed that evidence related to the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a federal immigration detainee who died by homicide asphyxiation, was missing or destroyed at the Camp East Montana detention facility in Texas.
• ICE filed a discrepancy report after the private contractor running the facility failed to provide use-of-force and death reports following Lunas Campos's death on January 3, which was initially mischaracterized by DHS as a suicide attempt.
• An internal ICE inspection found numerous violations at the facility, including poor documentation of use-of-force incidents, inadequate medical care, and failure to isolate a tuberculosis-infected detainee, leading ICE to terminate the contract with the original contractor in April.
• DHS stated that a new contractor will improve medical care, increase on-site staff, and implement a precise quality assurance surveillance plan to enhance oversight at Camp East Montana, which will remain operational and upgraded.
• The report highlights ongoing concerns about medical neglect and brutality in ICE detention centers, with 50 detainee deaths since 2017 and recent cases involving preventable medical complications.