The family of Genaro Manuel López-García, a 38-year-old Nicaraguan asylum seeker who died in ICE custody at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas, is publicly rejecting the official narrative of suicide and calling for an independent investigation. López-García was found unresponsive in his cell on January 15, 2026, and was pronounced dead despite resuscitation attempts by medical staff.
Here are images from recent protests outside the Pearsall facility and vigils held by immigrant rights groups in San Antonio and Washington, D.C.:
According to ICE’s preliminary statement, López-García died of an apparent self-inflicted injury. However, his sister María López, speaking from Nicaragua via video call with reporters on January 20, 2026, said the family has serious doubts:
“I don’t believe he took his life. My brother was strong, he was fighting for a better future for his children. He told us he was afraid, that the guards were rough, that he wasn’t getting proper food or medical care. We want the full video footage from his unit, the autopsy report, and an independent autopsy. Nothing less.”
López-García entered the U.S. in late 2024 seeking asylum from political persecution in Nicaragua. He had been detained since November 2025 after his credible fear interview. Family members and advocates claim he had repeatedly complained about untreated medical conditions (including severe migraines and anxiety) and poor conditions inside the facility.
Here are additional photos showing the South Texas ICE Processing Center and a memorial created by activists outside the gates:
The case has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant advocacy groups. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and RAICES have called it part of a “pattern of preventable deaths” in ICE custody, pointing to at least 12 reported deaths in detention centers in fiscal year 2025 alone. They are demanding:
- Immediate release of body camera and cell footage
- An independent forensic autopsy
- Congressional oversight of the Pearsall facility
- Suspension of transfers to the center pending investigation
ICE has stated it is cooperating with an internal review and has referred the matter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. The agency also noted that López-García was on suicide watch earlier in detention but was removed from it days before his death after being evaluated by mental health staff.
Public reaction has been intense on social media, with hashtags like #JusticeForGenaro and #EndICE trending in Spanish- and English-language communities. Protests are planned in San Antonio, Houston, and outside DHS headquarters in Washington this weekend.
For the López-García family, the pain is compounded by distance—they have not been able to see or claim his body yet due to international repatriation processes. María López ended her statement with a plea:
“He was a good man, a father, a brother. If he died by suicide, show us the proof. If someone hurt him, we deserve to know. Don’t let him become just another number.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns about mental health care, oversight, and transparency in immigration detention facilities under the current administration.
In summary, the family of Nicaraguan detainee Genaro Manuel López-García is rejecting the suicide determination and demanding full transparency following his death in ICE custody. As calls for independent investigation grow, this incident adds to mounting scrutiny of detention center conditions.