A new report has revealed serious violations at the Fort Bliss migrant detention facility in El Paso, Texas, raising urgent questions about the safety and treatment of detainees. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspectors, the newly built Camp East Montana failed to meet federal standards at least 60 times in its first 50 days of operation.
The inspection, legally required by ICE, found widespread problems affecting both detainees and staff. Inspectors reported that medical care was poorly monitored, putting detainees’ health at risk. The facility also lacked basic safety procedures to protect guards and detainees, and many migrants were left without access to lawyers or the ability to file complaints for weeks. These findings highlight deep concerns about the conditions inside the centre, which is already holding over 1,400 people.
The detention site, part of the Fort Bliss U.S. Army Post, has been described by officials as a “prototype” for a new generation of large-scale immigration facilities. Camp East Montana is designed to expand capacity dramatically, with space for up to 2,700 migrants this month and as many as 5,000 by the end of the year. ICE has publicly stated its goal of doubling national detention capacity, with Fort Bliss serving as a model for future sites.
Despite these plans, conditions at the facility have already come under fire. Local Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who visited the centre in late August, raised alarms after seeing the overcrowded conditions. She stressed that federal law allows members of Congress to enter such facilities to monitor operations. However, ICE delayed her visit for two weeks, claiming that inspections would not be permitted until construction was complete, even though her request met the agency’s seven-day notice requirement.
The problems do not end with operations inside the facility. The $1.2 billion contract to build and run the camp was awarded to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a small Virginia-based company registered to the home of its 77-year-old owner, Ken Wagner. Questions have been raised about whether such a small company is capable of managing a project of this scale. When contacted, the company declined to comment on its government contracts, and ICE officials also refused to respond to inquiries about the violations.
Interviews with detainees and individuals who have visited the site describe a facility struggling to cope. Reports suggest that communication systems remain incomplete, preventing detainees from accessing case information or contacting family members. Satellite images also reveal rapid, large-scale construction, reflecting the government’s push to expand capacity even as basic standards are not being met.
Advocates warn that the violations show a lack of accountability in America’s expanding immigration detention system. They argue that rushing to expand capacity without adequate safeguards risks exposing migrants to unsafe and unlawful conditions. Critics also point to the secrecy surrounding the contract and the refusal of ICE to answer questions as evidence that transparency is being undermined.
As of now, ICE has not provided a timeline for when the issues will be resolved. With more than 1,400 people already detained and plans to more than triple that number by year’s end, rights groups fear that the problems could worsen as the facility expands. The report leaves many wondering whether the government’s focus on expansion is being prioritized over the basic rights and safety of migrants in its custody.