Nicaraguan Detainee Dies by Presumed Suicide in Texas Detention Camp

Tue Feb 03 2026 19:33:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Victor Manuel Diaz, a Nicaraguan man detained in Texas, is presumed to have died by suicide shortly after being apprehended by immigration agents in Minnesota, raising concerns about conditions at the facility.

Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man, was found unresponsive at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, with indications of a suicide attempt just days after his detention. Family members dispute the suicide claim, questioning the treatment he received while in custody. This incident marks at least the third death at the controversial facility, which has faced allegations of abuse and neglect.

Associated Press (AP) — A Nicaraguan man who died at a troubled Texas detention camp days after he was detained by immigration agents in Minnesota appeared to have died by suicide, according to a 911 call and records released Wednesday.

Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, was found by guards on January 14 in a room at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, after he attempted suicide, a camp official reported in a 911 call obtained by The Associated Press through a public information request.

Diaz's death is one of at least three reported fatalities among detainees at Camp East Montana, which opened last year to accommodate up to 5,000 individuals near the U.S.-Mexico border. Advocates have raised concerns regarding patterns of violence, abuse, and neglect within the camp, with one previously reported death ruled a homicide.

Randall Kallinen, an attorney for Diaz's family, expressed skepticism over the suicide ruling, noting that Diaz was not depressed and looked forward to reuniting with his family in Nicaragua had he been deported.

Kallinen questioned whether factors at the facility may have contributed to Diaz's tragic action, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.

The confirmation of Diaz's suicide attempt came from a 911 call where an administrator reported, They were doing rounds and they just found him with his pants tied up to his neck. A separate report indicated that Diaz was suspected of hanging himself with a bed sheet. Although the autopsy findings have yet to be released, authorities have labeled the death as a presumed suicide.

Diaz was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 6 during a crackdown in Minneapolis. He had crossed into the U.S. seeking asylum the previous year but was later ordered deported after missing a court hearing.

Family members reported losing contact with Diaz after his detention and were notified of his death by ICE over a week later. Their calls seeking further details from the agency have gone unanswered.

A coalition of advocacy groups, along with a Democratic congresswoman representing El Paso, has called for the closure of Camp East Montana, especially following the January 3 death of another detainee, Geraldo Lunas Campos, ruled a homicide by physical restraint.

Diaz's death adds to the growing concerns about the treatment of detainees at immigration facilities, prompting calls for accountability and improved safety standards.