Concerns Rise Over Safety Violations at El Paso Immigration Detention Facility

Thu Apr 02 2026 20:43:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An inspection at the Camp East Montana immigration detention center by ICE revealed alarming safety deficiencies, including exposure to excessive force and insufficient medical care, leading to calls for immediate reforms.

A recent report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detailed significant safety deficiencies at Camp East Montana, the largest immigration detention facility in the U.S. The inspection uncovered 49 violations, including issues with medical care, use of force, and security lapses. Advocates and lawmakers express deep concerns for the safety and health of detainees, highlighting ongoing problems that remain unaddressed since the facility's opening.

A recent inspection at the nation's largest immigration detention facility revealed a shocking number of violations that expose detainees to excessive force, untreated diseases, and other unsafe conditions.

Conducted over three days in February by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Detention Oversight, the report documented 49 deficiencies—which are defined as violations of detention standards—in areas such as medical care, security, and the use of restraints. This inspection marks the first comprehensive review of Camp East Montana since its opening last summer.

Attorney Decries the Findings

The report prompted strong reactions from advocates, with attorney Randall Kallinen stating, This report is scathing. Camp East Montana gets an F. Kallinen represents the family of a detainee who died in January, and voiced deep concerns about detainee safety.

The number of deficiencies noted is notably high; the highest number found in any previous inspection by the oversight office this year was merely 13. Kallinen emphasized that detainees face risks from excessive force, inadequate medical treatment, and threats from other detainees.

The findings come at a critical time as ICE's parent organization, the Department of Homeland Security, pauses the purchase of warehouses intended to accommodate large numbers of detainees. Camp East Montana currently houses nearly 3,000 detainees daily, primarily men without prior convictions.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who has frequently visited the facility, labeled the inspection results as “a drop in the bucket of what is so profoundly wrong with that facility.” She criticized ICE for lacking genuine interest in improving conditions for detainees, suggesting systemic issues that compel detainees to opt for self-deportation.

The report highlighted several specific safety lapses, including inadequate checks against self-harm and suicide, issues with staff accountability, and failure by medical personnel to address potentially serious health issues such as tuberculosis.

Despite these severe findings, the inspection rated the facility as acceptable/adequate. The report recommended collaboration with a new contractor, Amentum Services, to rectify the noted deficiencies. Advocates and lawmakers are urging for swift and comprehensive reforms to ensure the safety and dignity of all detainees at the facility.