Scrutiny Mounts at Camp East Montana, Nation's Largest Immigration Detention Facility

A series of detainee deaths, a measles outbreak, and documented operational violations have drawn scrutiny to Camp East Montana, the largest immigration detention facility in the United States. The facility, located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, has been the site of multiple investigations and calls for closure from lawmakers and advocacy groups.

Facility Overview and Recent Deaths

Camp East Montana is a soft-sided tent facility that opened in August 2025. Operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it currently holds approximately 3,000 detainees, representing the largest single population in ICE custody.

Since December, three detainee deaths have been reported at the facility:

Francisco Gaspar-Andres, a 48-year-old man from Guatemala, died on December 3. ICE stated his death was due to liver and kidney failure. Some lawmakers have suggested his condition deteriorated due to inadequate medical care.
Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old man from Cuba, died on January 3. The El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide, with the cause listed as "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression." The autopsy report noted he became unresponsive while being physically restrained. ICE's initial statement said he died after "experiencing medical distress," while a later DHS statement said he was attempting suicide and resisted staff intervention. A witness reported seeing guards restrain Lunas Campos and hearing him say he could not breathe. The FBI is investigating the death.
Victor Manuel Diaz, a 34-year-old man from Nicaragua, was found unresponsive in his room on January 14 and pronounced dead. ICE stated his death was a "presumed suicide." His family has disputed this account, questioning the circumstances.

The El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide, with the cause listed as "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression."

Measles Outbreak and Health Concerns

In addition to the fatalities, a measles outbreak was confirmed at Camp East Montana. ICE reported at least 14 active cases, with 112 additional individuals isolated. The facility was closed to visitors and attorneys. The City of El Paso Department of Public Health separately confirmed four community measles cases involving individuals in their 20s and 30s, stating they were unrelated to the detention center cases.

This outbreak follows previous reports of tuberculosis and COVID-19 cases at the facility. During oversight visits, Representative Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) reported that personnel were not observed wearing masks. Advocacy groups and some detainees have alleged poor medical care, including long waits for treatment and inadequate responses to serious conditions.

Documented Violations and Detainee Accounts

In February, ICE inspectors identified 49 violations of detention standards at Camp East Montana. The violations included insufficient medical care and failures by staff to accurately document checks intended to prevent self-harm and suicide.

Former detainees have described problematic conditions:

Owen Ramsingh, a former detainee, reported poor living conditions, inadequate food, unsanitary bathrooms, and witnessing detainees experience mental health crises in large cells housing up to 72 men.
An anonymous woman detainee reported significant weight loss, often inedible food, and stated medical staff frequently advised drinking water and taking acetaminophen for illnesses.

The American Civil Liberties Union, in a December letter to ICE, cited interviews with over 45 individuals alleging "alarming conditions of confinement and repeated instances of coercion, physical force, and threats against immigrants."

Contractor Issues and Oversight Changes

The facility was initially operated under a contract valued at approximately $1.2 billion awarded to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a Virginia-based company with no prior experience running a detention facility. Public complaints about conditions emerged shortly after the facility opened.

In February, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) replaced that contract with a new $453 million contract awarded to Amentum Services, a former subcontractor. DHS stated the change aims to provide more on-site medical care and staff, implement a precise quality assurance plan, and allow for increased ICE oversight. DHS stated the facility is "upgrading."

Despite this change, Representative Escobar and more than two dozen other Democratic lawmakers have called for the facility to be shut down and for the Department of Justice to investigate the initial contract with Acquisition Logistics.

Broader Context of ICE Detention

Nationwide, deaths in ICE custody have reached 29 in the current fiscal year, which began in October, surpassing a previous record set in 2004. The detained population has increased to approximately 70,000, the highest in several years. DHS has stated the death rate in custody is 0.009% of the detained population and attributes the increase in total deaths to the larger detained population.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has stated the agency provides medical screenings and care, spending nearly half a billion dollars on detainee healthcare last fiscal year. Democratic lawmakers have questioned the increasing number of deaths and delays in public reporting.