Legal Action Initiated Against Immigration Detention Conditions
A coalition of legal and civil rights organizations announced on Friday that they have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), addressing the concerning conditions at Camp East Montana, the largest immigrant detention facility in the United States, located in El Paso.
Kyle Burjian, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, described Camp East Montana as a “civil rights disaster.” He emphasized that the lawsuit aims to prevent any further individuals from suffering the inhumane treatment that the previous administration imposed on detainees.
The lawsuit, brought forth by the ACLU of Texas, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and the law firm Farella Brown + Martell, comes just months after the vast tent camp began operations. Despite its recent establishment, the facility has faced substantial scrutiny, with ICE inspectors reporting multiple issues including at least three detainee deaths, a measles outbreak, and nearly 50 violations of established detention standards. These alarming revelations have led immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers to advocate for the facility’s closure.
The civil rights organizations allege in a December letter that detainees have encountered severe medical neglect, physical and sexual abuse, inadequate food provisions, and limited access to legal representation. In March, ICE announced a plan to transition the facility’s operations to a more experienced contractor, promising an enhancement in care standards. However, concerns persisted, as a follow-up letter from the advocacy groups dated May 22 highlighted a continued deterioration in conditions, including exposure to harmful dust.
This recent lawsuit claims that the conditions at Camp East Montana are not only unconstitutional but also infringe upon the due process rights of detainees as outlined in the Fifth Amendment. The petition represents four detainees but seeks to be recognized as a class action lawsuit for all individuals currently housed at the facility.
Among the plaintiffs is Gerald Akali Angie, who has described the environment in the camp as “inhumane and cruel.” Angie, a former high school teacher from Cameroon, fled his homeland after being kidnapped and tortured amid a separatist conflict. He sought asylum upon crossing through a New Mexico port of entry in December 2024, although his application was denied by an immigration judge, prompting him to file an appeal.
In a statement released on Friday, civil rights groups highlighted Angie’s experience of being beaten at Camp East Montana, an ordeal he never anticipated in the United States. “No one deserves such cruel treatment,” he stated. “We are all human beings and deserve to be treated the same.”
Opened in August 2025 on the Fort Bliss military base, Camp East Montana has been home to an increasing number of detainees. As of early April, the facility averaged more than 2,500 detainees daily, with projections indicating that it may eventually accommodate up to 5,000 individuals. Data from Syracuse University’s Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse indicates that the facility recorded the highest number of detained immigrants in fiscal year 2026.
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