Three detainees died at Camp East Montana; ACLU sues over abuse, neglect
Jun 9, 2026·Location: El Paso, TX

Camp East Montana, a 5,000-bed immigration detention facility at Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas—the nation's largest immigration detention center—has been the subject of legal action and government investigation following systemic failures. Four detainees filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of approximately 800 currently detained people and all future detainees, alleging physical assault by guards, sexual harassment, inadequate food, lack of daylight, medical neglect, and inappropriate use of force including solitary confinement. A Government Accountability Office report documented that the facility failed to meet ICE detention standards, with inadequate medical screening and care, unsanitary conditions, security failures including missing security cameras and perimeter surveillance blind spots, and disabled detainees unable to access ADA-compliant facilities. Three detainees died within six weeks to six months of the facility's operation, including a 55-year-old Cuban national whose death was ruled a homicide by the county medical examiner. Disease outbreaks including measles and tuberculosis occurred after the contractor failed to administer proper tuberculosis screening, and ICE inspectors documented nearly 50 detention standards violations.
Timeline
Sources
- ACLU sues DHS over 'inhumane conditions' at nation's largest immigration detention facility
goodmorningamerica.com·Jun 1, 2026·archived copy
- Legal Organizations File Lawsuit Over Immigration Detention Conditions at Camp East Montana in El Paso’s Fort Bliss Military Base | American Civil Liberties Union
- aclutx.org
- US’s Largest Migrant Detention Center Sued After Three Deaths
news.bloomberglaw.com·Jun 1, 2026·archived copy
- Texas Tribune
- ICE sued over “inhumane” conditions at Camp East Montana
Texas Tribune·May 30, 2026·archived copy
- aclutx.org
- ICE sued over 'inhumane' conditions at Texas immigration facility
mysanantonio.com·Jun 1, 2026·archived copy
- Largest ICE detention facility wasted millions and put detainees at risk, report finds
audacy.com·Jun 9, 2026·archived copy
- ‘Millions of dollars in waste': Federal report shows failures at ICE Camp East Montana
elpasomatters.org·Jun 9, 2026·archived copy
- Texas: ICE Wasted Millions and Endangered Detainees at Camp East Montana, Federal Report Finds
federalcharacter.com·Jun 11, 2026·archived copy
- Federal Watchdog Flags Homicide, Tuberculosis Failures, and Millions in Waste at Fort Bliss Detention Facility
theamericanstarnews.com·Jun 10, 2026·archived copy
- GAO warns detention camp failures could become a blueprint for billions in new spending
- GAO finds millions of dollars wasted, safety and security at risk in Texas detention center
usnewsrank.com·Jun 9, 2026·archived copy
- KTSM
- Report: ICE wasted millions, endangered detainees in largest immigration facility
WUNC·Jun 10, 2026·archived copy
- Ice detention camp, where Irishman is held, under scrutiny for unexplained deaths
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