An undocumented immigrant from Nicaragua has died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at a Texas detention site, with the agency describing the death as a “presumed suicide.”
Death Under Investigation
Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, died Jan. 14 at Camp East Montana, a large tent-based detention complex located on the U.S. Army’s Fort Bliss base in El Paso, according to ICE. Federal officials said the official cause of death has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
Custody Timeline
ICE said Diaz entered the United States illegally in March 2024 and was ordered removed in absentia by an immigration judge in August 2025. He had been in federal custody since Jan. 6, when ICE officers encountered him in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation.
The agency said Diaz was processed as a final order of removal on Jan. 12. Two days later, security staff found him unconscious and unresponsive in his room.
Emergency Response
According to ICE, on-site medical personnel and El Paso emergency medical services attempted life-saving measures, but Diaz was pronounced dead. ICE said it is committed to maintaining “safe, secure and humane environments” for those in its custody.
Second Death This Month
Diaz’s death is the second reported at the Camp East Montana facility this month. On Jan. 3, ICE said Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, of Cuba, died after experiencing medical distress. His cause of death is also under investigation.
Authorities Await Medical Examiner Findings
ABC News has contacted the El Paso County medical examiner’s office for updates on both cases but had not received a response as of publication.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, help is available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day.
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