OSINT Dossier: Victor Manuel Diaz - ICE Detention Death¶

Date of Research: February 5, 2026 (updated February 12, 2026)
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Victor Manuel Diaz - Death in ICE custody at Camp East Montana
Confidence: MEDIUM-HIGH
Classification: detention-death / disputed-suicide / autopsy-independence-compromised

Executive Summary¶

On January 14, 2026, Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man who had been working at a Korean restaurant in Minneapolis, was found dead in his room at Camp East Montana -- the nation's largest immigration detention facility, a massive tent complex on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Contract security staff found him "unconscious and unresponsive." ICE labeled his death a "presumed suicide." He had been in ICE custody for just eight days.

His family does not believe he took his own life. His brother Yorlan Diaz stated: "I don't believe he took his life. He was not a criminal; he was looking for a better life and he wanted to help our mother." The family's attorney, civil rights lawyer Randall Kallinen, reported that the family last spoke to Diaz on January 9 and that he did not sound depressed. They found out about his death through press reports -- not from ICE. They did not know where his body was.

The autopsy of Victor Manuel Diaz was not conducted by the El Paso County Medical Examiner, as it should have been. Instead, his body was sent to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center on Fort Bliss -- a military hospital that does not release autopsy reports to the public, only to family members and investigators. This matters enormously because the El Paso County Medical Examiner had just completed the autopsy of the previous Camp East Montana death -- Geraldo Lunas Campos -- and ruled it a homicide, contradicting ICE's claim that Campos died during a suicide attempt. The family's attorney described this routing as "suspicious" and suggested that ICE deliberately bypassed the independent medical examiner after receiving an unfavorable ruling.

Angélica César of Human Rights Watch stated the concern is not just where the autopsy was performed, "but really who controls the process and whether it's independent from (DHS's) custodial authority." The El Paso County Medical Examiner's office reportedly tried to take custody of the body, but a jurisdictional dispute with the federal government delayed the process -- and by the time it was resolved, the autopsy had already been completed at the military hospital.

Diaz's death occurred on the same day as the death of Heber Sanchez Dominguez at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility in Georgia, also labeled an "apparent suicide." Two reported suicides in two different facilities on the same day -- with the ICE detained population at a record 73,000+ -- represents an extraordinary statistical anomaly. He was the third person to die at Camp East Montana in 44 days, and the sixth person to die in ICE custody in the first two weeks of 2026.

VICTIM PROFILE¶

Victor Manuel Diaz

Field	Detail
Full Name	Victor Manuel Diaz
Age at Death	36 years old
Nationality	Nicaraguan
Family	Brother Yorlan Diaz; parents and siblings in Nicaragua; two children in Nicaragua
U.S. Residence	Minneapolis, Minnesota (living alone; only family member in the U.S.)
Employment	Worked at a Korean restaurant in a Minneapolis suburb
Purpose in U.S.	According to family: "to get together money and then return to Nicaragua to build a house where the mother and he could live"
Immigration Status	Unlawfully present; no prior encounters with ICE indicated
Date of Arrest	January 6, 2026 (encountered by ICE officers in Minneapolis)
Detention Facility	Camp East Montana, Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX
Time in Custody	8 days
Date of Death	January 14, 2026
ICE Cause of Death	"Presumed suicide"
Official Cause of Death	Under investigation -- autopsy performed at Army hospital, not independent ME

Who He Was¶

Victor Manuel Diaz was the only member of his family living in the United States. He came alone, worked alone, and maintained contact with his parents, siblings, and two children in Nicaragua by phone. According to his family's attorney Randall Kallinen: "He was the only one from that family who was in the United States, and his mother said the reason he was in the United States was to get together money and then return to Nicaragua to build a house where the mother and he could live."

He was not a man running from something. He was working toward something -- a house for his mother.

Brother Yorlan Diaz:

"I don't believe he took his life. He was not a criminal; he was looking for a better life and he wanted to help our mother."

Last Contact with Family¶

Family last spoke with Diaz on January 9, 2026 -- five days before his death
Family says he did not sound depressed during the call
Relatives in Nicaragua lost contact with him after he went to work at the suburban restaurant on January 6 and later learned he had been detained
They found out about his death through press reports, not from ICE
On January 15, ICE finally called the family to inform them of the death
Family members "were in disbelief"
Family did not know where his body was -- they assumed it was with the El Paso County Medical Examiner, because that is where the two previous Camp East Montana deaths had been sent

THE INCIDENT -- January 14, 2026¶

Timeline¶

January 6, 2026:
- ICE officers encountered Victor Manuel Diaz in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Officers determined he was unlawfully present in the United States
- Arrested on an immigration violation
- This was during a period of intensified ICE enforcement following the killings of Renee Good (January 7) and other incidents in Minneapolis

January 6-14, 2026:
- Transferred from Minneapolis to Camp East Montana -- approximately 1,100 miles
- Eight days in custody at Camp East Montana
- No public information about his conditions during detention, mental health screening, or access to legal counsel

January 9, 2026:
- Last phone conversation with family in Nicaragua
- Family says he did not sound depressed

January 14, 2026, approximately 4:09 p.m.:
- Contract security staff found Diaz "unconscious and unresponsive in his room"
- On-site medical staff and responding El Paso EMS performed life-saving measures
- Measures were unsuccessful

January 14, 2026:
- ICE classified the death as "presumed suicide"
- DHS Office of Inspector General notified
- ICE Office of Professional Responsibility notified

January 15, 2026:
- ICE called the family in Nicaragua to inform them of the death (one day after)

Post-death:
- Family learned through press reports before the official call
- Body sent to William Beaumont Army Medical Center for autopsy -- NOT to El Paso County Medical Examiner

Same-Day Death¶

Victor Manuel Diaz died on the same day as Heber Sanchez Dominguez at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility in Clayton County, Georgia. Both were labeled suicides by ICE. Both had been in custody approximately one week. The simultaneous occurrence of two reported suicides in two separate facilities warrants scrutiny.

THE AUTOPSY CONTROVERSY¶

What Should Have Happened¶

Camp East Montana is located in El Paso County, Texas. Previous deaths at the facility -- Francisco Gaspar-Andres (December 2025) and Geraldo Lunas Campos (January 3, 2026) -- were autopsied by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office. This is standard practice: the county medical examiner has jurisdiction over deaths in their county.

What Actually Happened¶

Victor Manuel Diaz's body was not sent to the El Paso County Medical Examiner. Instead, it was sent to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss -- the same military installation where Camp East Montana is located.

Why This Matters¶

1. The Previous Autopsy Contradicted ICE:
- Geraldo Lunas Campos died at Camp East Montana on January 3
- ICE claimed he died during a "suicide attempt"
- The El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled his death a HOMICIDE -- asphyxia from neck and torso compression by guards
- This homicide ruling generated massive negative publicity for ICE and Camp East Montana
- Diaz died 11 days later at the same facility
- His body was routed to a military hospital instead of the same ME who just ruled the previous death a homicide

2. The Military Hospital Does Not Release Reports Publicly:
- William Beaumont Army Medical Center does not release autopsy reports to the public
- Reports are only shared with family members and investigators
- This means the public may never see the findings -- unlike the Lunas Campos autopsy, which was a public document

3. Jurisdictional Dispute:
- Attorney Kallinen contacted the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office
- Officials told him they attempted to take custody of the body
- A "jurisdictional disagreement with the federal government" delayed the process
- By the time the dispute was resolved, the autopsy had already been completed at William Beaumont

4. Expert Assessment:
Angélica César, Human Rights Watch:

The concern is "not just about where Diaz's autopsy is being done, but really who controls the process and whether it's independent from (DHS's) custodial authority."

Attorney Randall Kallinen:

Finding it "suspicious" that ICE turned to a military hospital after the county ME ruled the previous death a homicide

The Pattern¶

Death	Date	Autopsy By	Result	Public?
Francisco Gaspar-Andres	Dec 3, 2025	El Paso County ME	Natural causes	Yes
Geraldo Lunas Campos	Jan 3, 2026	El Paso County ME	HOMICIDE	Yes
Victor Manuel Diaz	Jan 14, 2026	Army Medical Center	Pending	No (not public)

The switch from independent county medical examiner to military hospital autopsy occurred immediately after the independent ME returned a homicide ruling. This pattern is consistent with an attempt to control the autopsy narrative.

FACILITY -- CAMP EAST MONTANA¶

The Facility¶

Field	Detail
Location	Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas
Type	Soft-sided (tent) facility on desert terrain
Capacity	Approximately 5,000 detainees
Opened	August 2025
Contractor	Acquisition Logistics LLC ($1.24 billion contract)
Status	Largest ICE detention facility in the United States

Three Deaths in 44 Days¶

#	Date	Name	Age	Nationality	ICE Claim	ME Finding
1	Dec 3, 2025	Francisco Gaspar-Andres	48	Guatemala	Natural causes	Natural causes (liver disease)
2	Jan 3, 2026	Geraldo Lunas Campos	55	Cuba	Suicide attempt	HOMICIDE (guard restraint asphyxiation)
3	Jan 14, 2026	Victor Manuel Diaz	36	Nicaragua	Presumed suicide	Pending (Army hospital autopsy)

Three deaths in 44 days at a single facility that has been open less than six months. One confirmed homicide. One pending autopsy routed to a non-independent facility.

Facility Conditions¶

ICE's own oversight unit found 60+ federal standards violations in the first 50 days
Medical care deficiencies documented
No use-of-force policy consistent with ICE standards
"Unreasonable barriers" to legal counsel
Located on military installation limiting public access and oversight
$1.24 billion contract awarded to company with no corrections experience
After Diaz's death, visitors to Minnesota detainees held at Fort Bliss were blocked from seeing them

Calls to Close¶

ACLU of Texas demanded closure
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) called conditions "dangerous and inhumane" and demanded the contract be terminated
Coalition of Texas and New Mexico immigrant rights organizations demanded closure
Escobar: "I reiterate my call for Camp East Montana to be shut down and for the contract with the corporation running it to be terminated"

Visitor Access Blocked¶

In the aftermath of Diaz's death, the third at Camp East Montana, visitors attempting to see Minnesota detainees held at Fort Bliss were blocked from access. The blocking of visitor access after a death raises serious concerns:

Potential witnesses among the detained population cannot communicate with attorneys or family
The military installation setting gives authorities additional mechanisms to restrict access
Detainees transferred from Minnesota -- already 1,100+ miles from their community -- are further isolated
Without visitor access, conditions inside the facility remain unverifiable by outside observers

This restriction mirrors the broader pattern at Camp East Montana of using the military installation's security apparatus to limit transparency and external oversight.

INVESTIGATION STATUS¶

Federal¶

Agency	Status
DHS Office of Inspector General	Notified; status unknown
ICE Office of Professional Responsibility	Notified; status unknown
FBI	Investigating Lunas Campos death; unclear if Diaz death is included
Independent investigation	None announced

Autopsy¶

Performed at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss
Armed Forces pathologist conducted the examination
Attorney told results could take months to be released
Will not be made public -- only released to family and investigators
El Paso County ME attempted to take custody of body but was blocked by jurisdictional dispute

Family's Legal Representation¶

Attorney Randall Kallinen (Houston-based civil rights lawyer):
- Representing the Diaz family
- Has characterized the autopsy routing as "suspicious"
- Questioning independence of the investigation
- Seeking full disclosure of autopsy findings

PATTERN ANALYSIS¶

The January 14 "Double Suicide"¶

Detail	Victor Manuel Diaz	Heber Sanchez Dominguez
Age	36	34
Nationality	Nicaragua	Mexico
Time in Custody	8 days	~7 days
Found	~4:09 PM	~2:05 AM
ICE Claim	"Presumed suicide"	"Apparent suicide"
Location	Camp East Montana, TX	RAD Facility, GA
Family Dispute	Brother: "I don't believe he took his life"	No public statement disputing
Autopsy	Army hospital (not independent)	Clayton County ME (independent)

Two men, both in their thirties, both in custody approximately one week, both reported as suicides on the same day. At a facility system holding 73,000+ people, the probability of two genuine suicides on the same day at two different facilities is not impossible -- but it demands scrutiny, especially when:

The immediately preceding death at one of those facilities was ruled a homicide despite ICE claiming suicide
The autopsy at that same facility was deliberately routed to a non-independent military hospital
ICE has a documented pattern of mislabeling deaths

2026 Death Timeline¶

#	Date	Name	Age	Nationality	Cause	Facility
1	Jan 3	Geraldo Lunas Campos	55	Cuba	HOMICIDE (guard restraint)	Camp East Montana
2	Jan 5	Luis G. Nunez Caceres	42	Honduras	"Heart issues"	Houston, TX
3	Jan 6	Luis B. Yanez-Cruz	68	Honduras	"Heart issues" (medical neglect)	Calexico, CA
4	Jan 7	Renee Good	--	U.S. citizen	Shot by ICE Agent Ross	Minneapolis, MN
5	Jan 9	Parady La	--	--	Drug withdrawal	--
6	Jan 14	Heber Sanchez Dominguez	34	Mexico	"Apparent suicide"	Clayton County, GA
7	Jan 14	Victor Manuel Diaz	36	Nicaragua	"Presumed suicide"	Camp East Montana

Seven deaths in 12 days. One confirmed homicide. One documented medical neglect case. One shooting. Two disputed "suicides." Two vague "heart issues." This pace -- with 73,000+ people detained -- represents the deadliest start to any year in ICE history.

ICE Narrative Control Pattern¶

Diaz's case exemplifies ICE's strategy for controlling the narrative around detention deaths:

Step	Application
1. Immediate classification	Death labeled "presumed suicide" before any investigation
2. Control autopsy access	Body routed to military hospital, bypassing independent ME
3. Limit public disclosure	Military hospital does not release reports publicly
4. Delay	Attorney told results could take months
5. Block access	Visitors to Minnesota detainees at Fort Bliss blocked after death

Each step reduces the possibility of independent verification or public accountability.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS¶

Who ordered the autopsy routing? Who decided to send Diaz's body to William Beaumont Army Medical Center instead of the El Paso County Medical Examiner? Was this decision made by ICE, Camp East Montana staff, or the military installation?
Was this retaliation? Did the homicide ruling in the Lunas Campos autopsy directly cause ICE to bypass the independent ME for the next death?
Autopsy findings: What did the Armed Forces pathologist find? Are there injuries consistent with restraint, altercation, or assault? Will findings be released publicly?
Surveillance footage: Is there video of the area where Diaz was found? Was he under any form of monitoring? Who had access to his room?
Mental health screening: Was Diaz screened for mental health upon arrival? What mental health resources were available? Was a Spanish-speaking mental health professional available?
Eight days: What happened during his eight days in custody? Did he have contact with legal counsel? Was he able to call his family regularly?
Minneapolis connection: Diaz was arrested in Minneapolis during a period of intense enforcement activity (including the killing of Renee Good on January 7). Was his arrest part of a specific operation?
Witness access: Were other detainees in proximity to Diaz's room? Have they been interviewed? Are they at risk of deportation before giving testimony?
Visitor block: After Diaz's death, visitors to Minnesota detainees at Fort Bliss were blocked. Why? Was this to prevent witness contact with attorneys or family?
Independent autopsy: Will the family be permitted to obtain an independent autopsy? Has the body been released to the family?

ASSESSMENT¶

Confidence: MEDIUM-HIGH

Confirmed (multiple independent sources):
- Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, Nicaraguan, father of two, sole U.S. family member
- Worked at Korean restaurant in Minneapolis suburb
- Arrested January 6, 2026, by ICE in Minneapolis
- Transferred to Camp East Montana, Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX
- Found "unconscious and unresponsive" January 14, 2026
- ICE classified death as "presumed suicide"
- Had been in custody 8 days
- Family last spoke to him January 9; says he did not sound depressed
- Brother Yorlan Diaz: "I don't believe he took his life"
- Family learned of death through press reports, not from ICE
- Autopsy performed at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (military hospital), NOT El Paso County ME
- El Paso County ME attempted to take custody of body; jurisdictional dispute prevented it
- Previous Camp East Montana death (Lunas Campos) was ruled HOMICIDE by county ME after ICE claimed suicide
- Autopsy results not yet public; could take months
- Third death at Camp East Montana in 44 days
- Sixth ICE custody death in first 14 days of 2026
- One of two "suicides" on January 14, 2026, at two different facilities
- Attorney Kallinen representing family; characterizes autopsy routing as "suspicious"
- Human Rights Watch raised independence concerns
- Visitors blocked from seeing Minnesota detainees at Fort Bliss after death
- Rep. Escobar and ACLU demanding Camp East Montana closure

Under Investigation / Unresolved:
- Whether Diaz actually died by suicide
- Full autopsy findings (pending from Army medical center)
- Whether any injuries inconsistent with suicide were found
- Surveillance footage
- Mental health screening and care during detention
- Why body was routed to military hospital instead of independent ME
- Whether other detainees witnessed anything

Critical Assessment:

Victor Manuel Diaz's death cannot be evaluated independently because ICE has removed it from independent evaluation. By routing his autopsy to a military hospital -- after the independent medical examiner ruled the previous death at the same facility a homicide -- ICE has effectively controlled the evidence chain. The military hospital does not release reports publicly. The results could take months. The El Paso County ME attempted to take custody of the body and was blocked.

When an agency routes an autopsy away from the same independent examiner who just contradicted their narrative, the most charitable interpretation is poor judgment. The less charitable interpretation is evidence manipulation.

The family's attorney is right to find it suspicious. Human Rights Watch is right to question who controls the process. The question is not whether Diaz died by suicide or by the hands of others. The question is whether we will ever know.

SOURCES¶

Primary Reporting¶

Autopsy Routing Controversy¶

Official Statements¶

ICE Press Release - Death of Illegal Alien in Custody in El Paso

Camp East Montana Context¶

Broader Context¶

Advocacy¶

Research completed: February 5, 2026, 04:52 UTC
Last updated: February 12, 2026
Priority: URGENT - Autopsy independence compromised; Camp East Montana pattern demands investigation

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT -- public sources only