Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Texas Detention Center Over Alleged Human Rights Violations
A recent lawsuit filed against the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in the United States has brought attention to the alleged inhumane conditions faced by detainees. The legal action, initiated by four individuals held at the Camp East Montana facility, accuses the center of severe human rights abuses and medical neglect.
The complaint, which was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, outlines what it describes as “inhumane” treatment at the detention center located on Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas. The allegations include inadequate medical care, physical violence by guards, and violations of both human rights and constitutional protections. More details on the complaint can be found here.
Conditions at the facility, as described in the lawsuit, include frequent beatings, sexual harassment by guards, unsanitary living conditions, poor nutrition, and limited access to basic hygiene products. The complaint also highlights issues such as outbreaks of disease, lack of sunlight, and restricted opportunities for recreation.
This lawsuit marks the first legal challenge against the facility, which has faced calls for closure from immigration advocates and former detainees. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status to represent all current and future detainees at Camp East Montana. For more information on the plaintiffs’ claims, visit this link.
The complaint details the experiences of Gerald Akari Angye, one of the named plaintiffs, who alleges he was beaten so severely that he required hospitalization and was subsequently placed in solitary confinement. “No human being should ever have to go through this,” Angye stated, according to an ACLU statement. “I have already experienced torture in my home country of Cameroon and I never thought I would experience such severely violent treatment by guards here in the United States of America.”
Another detainee, known only as Navdeep, reported unsanitary conditions such as dirty toilet water in his sleeping area and difficulty accessing drinking water. Navdeep also noted wearing the same clothes for weeks and experiencing breathing difficulties due to dust.
Medical neglect is a key issue, with reports of detainees not receiving timely medications for serious conditions. The facility was temporarily closed to visitors due to a measles outbreak in February, as reported by Marfa Public Radio. The complaint further mentions overcrowded units, a lack of clean water, and inadequate food provisions.
ICE Director Todd Lyons and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin are named as defendants. A DHS spokesperson denied the allegations, stating they are “categorically false” and emphasized that ICE facilities undergo regular audits to ensure compliance with national standards. The spokesperson added, “ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”
Camp East Montana, opened in 2025, can accommodate up to 5,000 people but typically holds around 3,000. Previous NPR reports link at least three deaths to the facility, including a homicide case, and an ICE audit revealed multiple violations of detention standards. For further details, view the ICE report here.
Congressional oversight visits have occurred, with some lawmakers expressing concern over the conditions observed. Minnesota Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, after her visit, expressed horror at the treatment of detainees. More insights into her visit can be found here.
