EL PASO, Texas — In a troubling incident, Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old immigrant from Nicaragua, was discovered dead last week at an ICE immigration detention facility located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Official reports suggest that Diaz died by suicide, which is currently under federal investigation.
This incident follows another recent death at the same facility where another detainee tragically lost his life as staff attempted to intervene amid mental health crises. Eyewitness accounts raise serious concerns, suggesting that excessive force was used by multiple officers during the restraint of that individual.
Diaz was apprehended as part of a federal crackdown on immigration enforcement and had entered the U.S. earlier this year. Despite receiving a removal order in January, he remained in detention, highlighting the ongoing struggles within the immigration system. Prior to his death, Diaz was reportedly in a vulnerable mental state, a situation that has alarmed advocates and prompted calls for immediate reforms in detention facilities.
ICE has yet to release comprehensive details surrounding Diaz's death, affirming that they will notify Congress and provide public statements on such incidents. Advocates argue that these events underscore the pressing need for systemic changes to ensure the well-being and humane treatment of individuals in detention.
