A sign marks the entrance to Camp East Montana immigration detention center in the desert U.S. Army base outside El Paso, Texas, on February 13, 2026. Morgan Lee/AP
Morgan Lee/Associated Press
A recently released report from a federal oversight agency has highlighted significant violations at Camp East Montana, one of the country’s largest immigration detention centers. The findings point to the misallocation of millions in taxpayer funds, deterioration of detainee health, and the mishandling of evidence related to investigations concerning detainee fatalities.
This report, drafted by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), centers on Camp East Montana, inaugurated in August 2025 within the Fort Bliss military installation in El Paso, Texas. Although it has the capacity to house up to 5,000 migrants, the facility has consistently struggled to operate at full capacity.
Initially managed by Acquisition Logistics LLC and now under Amentum Services, the detention center has faced persistent operational issues. The GAO report reveals that substantial funds were wasted on food and medical procedures billed for full occupancy, despite the number of actual detainees being considerably lower.
In response to the findings, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of the lawmakers who requested the report, expressed strong concern. He characterized the situation as “terrible,” emphasizing that it underscores the detrimental consequences of the previous administration’s aggressive deportation strategy. “The excessive use of force, lack of medical and mental health care, and wasted taxpayer dollars are emblematic of this mass deportation program,” Durbin stated.
In a statement to NPR, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pledged to undertake renovations aimed at enhancing the facility under new management. “ICE is constantly evaluating ways to improve its detention facilities to ensure the best possible care for individuals in custody,” the agency noted.
Concerns Over Evidence and Detainee Treatment
Since its establishment, Camp East Montana has been engulfed in controversy. The facility was constructed expediently in response to the pressing demand for additional detention space stemming from the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Acquisition Logistics LLC, a relatively small contractor lacking experience in operating immigration detention centers, was awarded a contract worth $1.3 billion. Since its launch, immigration lawyers and human rights advocates have raised numerous alarms regarding the harsh conditions within the facility. In a letter to Congress last December, the ACLU detailed the troubling accounts of 45 detainees who reported instances of coercion and physical abuse.
In February, ICE inspectors identified 49 violations of detention standards at the facility, including inadequate documentation of testing necessary to prevent self-harm and suicides. A month later, four detainees filed a lawsuit against the facility citing severe medical neglect. The report also confirms that at least three detainees lost their lives while in custody, including Gerardo Lunas Campos, whose death was ruled a homicide.
The GAO investigation revealed that evidence associated with the death incident was either lost or destroyed, underscoring deep systemic failures within the facility’s management. Despite the troubling evidence, Acquisition Logistics did not respond to inquiries from NPR for a comment.
In March, DHS terminated the contract with Acquisition Logistics and awarded a new $453 million contract to Amentum Services, a procurement logistics subcontractor for Camp East Montana. The agency assured that the new contractor would adhere to higher detention standards and enhance medical care on-site, including further staff oversight and quality assurance measures for contractor performance. However, local immigrant rights activists and concerned legislators remain unconvinced.
Representative Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), who has visited the facility, is advocating for its closure and the investigation of contractor operations. She called for transparency and accountability regarding the mishandled evidence and emphasized redirecting funds to better serve the local community. While DHS has dismissed any notions of closing Camp East Montana, citing ongoing improvements, the pressure for reform continues to mount.
