A Troubled Detention Facility Under Scrutiny in El Paso
Amidst the vast desert landscape of El Paso, Texas, lies Camp East Montana, a detention center that has recently become the focal point of controversy. Located on the U.S. Army’s Fort Bliss military base, this facility is currently the largest immigrant detention center in the United States.
The center, which opened in August 2025, is operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has a capacity to house up to 5,000 immigrants. Recent reports, however, have raised serious concerns regarding the operations and safety at the facility. Since October, the facility has recorded three of the 25 detainee deaths nationwide.
Questions Surrounding Management
Camp East Montana was initially managed by Acquisition Logistics, a company with no prior experience in running detention centers, under a $1.3 billion federal contract. This decision has sparked criticism from various quarters, including immigration advocates and lawmakers, who are now calling for the facility’s closure. Members of Congress have echoed these demands.
Owen Ramsingh, a former detainee from the Netherlands, described the conditions as “horrible,” citing issues with food, sanitation, and treatment by staff. He also recounted witnessing other detainees struggling with mental health crises due to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
An inspection conducted by ICE in February revealed 49 violations of detention standards, including inadequate medical care and improper documentation to prevent self-harm and suicide. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has documented similar concerns in a letter to ICE, highlighting coercion and threats against detainees.
Recent Detainee Deaths
The facility has come under further scrutiny following multiple deaths. Francisco Gaspar-Andres, a Guatemalan man, died of kidney failure in December. In January, Cuban national Geraldo Luna Campos died from what was initially described as “medical distress,” but an autopsy later ruled his death a homicide due to asphyxia. Victor Manuel Diaz, a Nicaraguan detainee, was reported to have died by suicide, but his family contests this claim.
Diaz’s family attorney, Randall Kallinen, has raised questions about the circumstances of his death, noting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has yet to provide clarity on why Diaz was in a clinic room at the time of his death.
Calls for Change
In March, ICE replaced Acquisition Logistics with Amentum Services under a new $453 million contract. DHS has announced plans to enhance oversight and improve the facility’s operations. However, activists and lawmakers, including Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, continue to push for an investigation into the original contract awarded to Acquisition Logistics.
“It’s not enough to just switch contractors,” Escobar stated. “Acquisition Logistics needs to be investigated.”
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
