Immigrant Arrested in MN Dies in ICE Custody

Updated 1/22/26 at 11:51am EST:

A man arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on January 6 died while in custody at a facility in El Paso, Texas.

The Details: Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, was a Nicaraguan citizen who came to the US illegally by way of Mexico in March 2024. On January 14, he was found unconscious in his cell at 3:35 pm and declared dead at 4:09 pm after medical services attempted life-saving measures. ICE said that he "died of a presumed suicide," although his official cause of death is still under investigation. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on X, calling for an investigation into the death.

For Context: Diaz is the second person to die in this facility since the start of 2026. Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old immigrant from Cuba, died while experiencing "medical distress" on January 3, according to The Guardian (Left bias). His death is being investigated as a potential homicide, as the medical examiner determined his cause of death was related to "neck and chest compression," and a fellow detainee alleged that he saw guards choking Campos. 

Geraldo Lunas Campos' death was ruled a homicide on Wednesday by an autopsy report by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office. Campos' body showed abrasions on his chest and knees indicated a struggle, and his cause of death was asphyxia due to neck and torso compression. ICE had originally said Campos attempted suicide and died while staff tried to save him.

Related: Was 2025 the 'Deadliest Year' for Immigrants in ICE Custody?

How the Media Covered It: The Guardian highlighted in its headline that Diaz was the second person to die in this facility in two weeks. CBS News (Lean Left) noted that as of Thursday, the day after Diaz's death, ICE had about 73,000 people in detention, which is the highest level ever recorded by the agency. Washington Times (Lean Right) reported on both Diaz and Campos' deaths at the facility, and Breitbart (Right) noted calls for investigation from various Minnesota officials. Forbes (Center) reported on Diaz's death as well as another detainee who died in a Georgia ICE facility in early January, noting that the American Civil Liberties Union has recently criticized the Texas facility for inhumane conditions.

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.