A recent inspection at the largest immigration detention facility in the United States has uncovered numerous violations of national standards, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of detainees. The inspection, carried out by the Office of Detention Oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), took place over three days in February at Camp East Montana in El Paso. The findings were made public in a report released by ICE this week.
The report highlights 49 deficiencies, categorized as violations of detention standards or policies, affecting various areas such as the use of force, security measures, and medical care. This inspection marks the first release of findings from the oversight office since the facility’s rapid construction and opening last summer.
Attorney Randall Kallinen, representing the family of a detainee who died at the facility in January, described the report as “scathing,” asserting that the camp deserves an “F” for its conditions. Kallinen emphasized the dangers detainees face, including the risk of excessive force, inadequate medical attention, and threats from other inmates. The camp has reported at least three deaths since it commenced operations.
The inspection report coincides with a pause by ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, on plans to acquire additional warehouse facilities capable of accommodating over 7,000 immigrants in a single location. Current data indicates that Camp East Montana is the largest detention site in the country, typically housing around 3,000 detainees daily, most of whom are men without criminal convictions.
The inspection was conducted shortly before ICE’s decision to replace Acquisition Logistics LLC, the prime contractor, after mounting criticism regarding the facility’s conditions. This company was awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion for constructing and managing the camp, despite lacking experience in the field. Attempts to reach the company and its president, Ken Wagner, for comments were unsuccessful.
On March 12, Amentum Services, a more experienced contractor, took over operations at Camp East Montana. Their nearly $453 million no-bid contract for detention, transportation, and medical services is set to continue until September 30.
Detainees at Camp East Montana typically remain there for several days or weeks while awaiting deportation or transfer to other facilities. U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, expressed that the inspection findings reflect only a fraction of the systemic issues plaguing the facility. Detainees have consistently reported medical neglect and various other problems, leading Escobar to question whether the conditions are intentionally maintained to pressure detainees into agreeing to self-deportation.
Escobar criticized ICE for showing a lack of interest in making necessary improvements or holding contractors accountable. In response, an ICE spokesperson asserted that the new contract would enhance medical care, increase staffing levels, and implement stricter oversight measures.
The inspection report detailed numerous safety issues that had persisted during Acquisition Logistics’ management. Staff failed to adequately document required checks aimed at preventing self-harm and suicide, which have been significant concerns at the facility. Moreover, the contractor did not provide staffing level information to ICE, complicating assessments of security adequacy. In one alarming incident, a detainee escaped due to insufficient staff monitoring the perimeter.
Inspectors noted that tools and equipment were left unsecured throughout the facility, and there was a lack of proper inventory management for ammunition. In instances where guards employed force or restraints, written reports were often not filed as mandated. Supervisors neglected to document their observations and failed to preserve video evidence of incidents, while the facility did not conduct thorough reviews of the use of chemical agents or other force types.
Medical staff exhibited negligence by failing to isolate a detainee exhibiting tuberculosis symptoms and did not inform ICE about the case. Additionally, the facility took an excessive amount of time to respond to grievances concerning medical care, with delays ranging from six to 14 business days.
Despite these alarming findings, the report assigned Camp East Montana an “acceptable/adequate” rating and advised ICE to collaborate with the new contractor to address outstanding deficiencies. It also countered one of the detainees’ most frequent complaints regarding inadequate food portions, asserting that the food service program, operated by the subcontractor Disaster Management Group, met federal caloric recommendations based on certification from a dietitian.
