Camp East Montana, a rapidly constructed immigration detention facility in El Paso, is facing closure due to a measles outbreak, as indicated by a report from the Washington Post. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is in the process of terminating its $1.2 billion contract for the facility, although a specific closure date has yet to be announced.
ICE staff received a document suggesting that the agency is preparing a letter to end its contract with Acquisition Logistics LLC, which is currently set to expire on September 30, 2027. A representative from the company did not provide an immediate response to inquiries regarding the situation.
The announcement regarding the potential closure drew swift reactions, particularly from U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso. She characterized the camp as “the epitome of fraud, waste, [and] abuse,” and has been a vocal advocate for its closure, citing ongoing concerns about substandard medical care for detainees.
In her statement, Escobar criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, stating, “Our community must remain vigilant and committed to the continued fight while rejoicing that this dark chapter is over.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that the agency is reviewing the facility’s contract but clarified that no final decision has been made regarding its extension or cancellation. Both ICE and DHS representatives did not respond to further questions about whether the contract review was a routine process or prompted by recent events.
“DHS undergoes rigorous audits and inspections of our facilities to ensure they are meeting our high standards,” said the spokesperson.
Since its opening in August as part of the Trump administration’s initiative to detain and deport significant numbers of undocumented immigrants, Camp East Montana has been embroiled in controversy. The recent death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban detainee, was ruled a homicide, marking the first such ruling for an ICE detainee linked to staff in at least 15 years. Campos’ death was one of three fatalities at the camp in just over a month, and it followed an initial claim by ICE that his death resulted from medical distress.
As of Tuesday, at least 14 cases of measles have been reported at the camp, prompting the isolation of 112 individuals. This outbreak follows earlier reports of tuberculosis and several COVID-19 cases detected in January.
The current population at Camp East Montana has decreased to approximately 1,500 detainees, which is about half of the number reported in January. Despite the consideration of closing this facility, the Trump administration is also exploring the opening of new ICE facilities in warehouses across Texas and the nation to accommodate a growing number of detainees. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security acquired several industrial park warehouses in El Paso for $123 million.
