Lawsuit Filed in Death of Migrant at Camp East Montana

A Migrant Detainee’s Struggles and Tragic Death at Camp East Montana

In January of this year, a 55-year-old Cuban national named Geraldo Lunas Campos died while in the custody of a private detention facility in Montana. His death has sparked significant concern and scrutiny due to the circumstances surrounding his passing and the lack of adequate mental health care he reportedly received during his time in detention.

Lunas Campos had a documented history of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and anxiety. According to records obtained by the Washington Post, he frequently complained about not receiving the correct dosage of antidepressants. He also expressed suicidal thoughts and even reported injuring himself by hitting his head against a wall.

Three months before his death, guards found Lunas Campos with a sheet tied around his neck, indicating a potential self-harm attempt. Despite discussions among staff about moving him to a higher level of mental health care, no such action was taken.

The family of Lunas Campos has since filed a lawsuit against the guards and the company that operated the facility at the time of his death. They are seeking $1 million in damages, claiming that the guards were responsible for his death and that the facility failed to provide proper treatment for his mental illness.

An autopsy conducted by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Lunas Campos died from asphyxia caused by neck and torso compression, with the manner of death ruled a homicide. This ruling does not imply intent to kill but rather indicates that another person was responsible for his death.

According to the lawsuit, the family claims that the guards killed Lunas Campos and that their employers failed to adequately train and supervise them. The complaint also highlights the facility’s failure to properly treat his mental illness, which put him in danger.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that Lunas Campos attempted to take his own life, and the security staff intervened to save his life. However, conflicting accounts exist regarding the events leading up to his death. A witness claims that he was choked to death by guards, while DHS alleges that he was trying to take his own life and was killed during a struggle.

The case has drawn attention due to the high number of deaths in ICE custody this year, which is on pace to set a record. Only a small number of homicides have occurred in ICE detention, making Lunas Campos’s death particularly concerning.

Lunas Campos began complaining about his medication soon after being booked into Camp East Montana in September 2025. According to documents collected by the medical examiner, he relied on antidepressants and became irritable when the facility did not give him his morning dose until the afternoon.

In November, he went four days without receiving his medications, according to a note in his medical file. On the afternoon of January 3, a cellmate reported that staff repeatedly refused to give him his medication. Lunas Campos then volunteered to be placed in the segregated housing unit if that would ensure he received his medication.

The lawsuit claims that Lunas Campos was brought to the segregated housing cell shackled and handcuffed. When guards refused to give him his medication, he became agitated. The complaint alleges that the four guards restrained him and continued to apply pressure to his neck and chest even after he yelled that he couldn’t breathe.

The FBI’s preliminary investigation found that Lunas Campos tried to harm himself by wrapping a sweatshirt around his neck and attempting to tie it to the frame of a bed. A letter written by FBI Special Agent Shannon Enochs noted that guards made physical contact with the inmate, who became resistant as contract staff attempted to apply wrist restraints.

Despite the ongoing investigation, the details remain unclear. The family continues to seek justice, and the case highlights the need for improved mental health care and oversight in immigration detention facilities.