Report: ICE wasted millions, endangered detainees in largest immigration facility

Report: ICE Wasted Millions, Endangered Detainees in Largest Immigration Facility

Report - A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights significant issues at Camp East Montana, the nation's largest immigration detention facility. The findings reveal systemic failures, including the squandering of millions in taxpayer funds, compromised health conditions for detainees, and the loss or tampering of evidence during a detainee death investigation.

Facility Background

Located on the sprawling grounds of Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army military installation in El Paso, Texas, Camp East Montana was established in August 2025. Designed to house up to 5,000 immigrants, the facility was intended to support the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts, particularly under President Trump's heightened focus on border security. However, from its inception, the center has faced challenges, with its operations initially managed by Acquisition Logistics LLC and later taken over by Amentum Services in March. Despite these changes, the facility has not reached full capacity, raising questions about its efficiency and resource allocation.

Contractor Challenges

The GAO report underscores the financial and operational missteps tied to the facility’s management. It details how millions of dollars were spent on meals and operational costs, even as the actual number of detainees remained significantly lower than the maximum capacity. This discrepancy suggests that the facility was billed for full operations, yet its performance did not match the scale of its expenses. The report also points to lapses in care, including inadequate medical and mental health services, which have placed detainees at risk of serious harm.

Lawmakers and Advocates Respond

Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, who requested the report, described its findings as “damning.” In a statement, he emphasized the broader implications of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, stating,

"We now know even more details of how dangerous and irresponsible the Trump Administration's mass deportation campaign truly is. Excessive use of force, lacking medical and mental health care, and wasted taxpayer dollars are emblematic of this mass deportation scheme."

Durbin’s comments align with concerns from immigration advocates, who have criticized the facility’s conditions since its opening last year. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, has also voiced strong opposition, having visited the site and called for immediate action. She argues that the facility should be shut down, its contractor investigated, and the destruction of evidence referred to law enforcement. “Republicans should work with us to redirect these funds to meet the needs of hardworking Americans,” she stated in a news release.

Detainee Deaths and Evidence Loss

The report’s findings include the tragic deaths of at least three individuals while in custody. One of these, Geraldo Lunas Campos, was officially ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office. The GAO highlights that evidence related to the incident was either missing or destroyed, which has raised alarms about the thoroughness of the investigation. This evidence loss, combined with reports of physical force and medical neglect, paints a picture of systemic failures within the facility.

Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups have documented troubling conditions, with 45 detainees sharing accounts of “repeated instances of coercion” and physical harm. These accounts, included in a December letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to Congress, emphasize the human cost of the facility’s operations. In February, ICE inspectors identified 49 violations of detention standards, ranging from poor use of force practices to a failure in documenting safety checks that could have prevented self-harm and suicide. A month later, four detainees filed a lawsuit, alleging “severe medical neglect” and citing inadequate care as a critical issue.

Contractor Transition and DHS Response

Following the initial contract with Acquisition Logistics LLC, which lacked prior experience in immigration detention, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) replaced the agreement in March. A new $453 million contract was awarded to Amentum Services, a company that had previously served as a subcontractor for Acquisition Logistics at Camp East Montana. In a statement, DHS asserted that the change in contractor would enable the facility to “continue abiding by the highest detention standards” and “provide MORE medical care on-site.” The agency also highlighted the addition of more on-site staff and a “PRECISE quality assurance surveillance plan,” while emphasizing increased oversight of contractors.

Ongoing Concerns and Calls for Reform

Despite these promises, immigration-rights advocates and local lawmakers remain skeptical. They argue that the transition to Amentum Services has not resolved the facility’s core issues, and the report’s findings suggest ongoing problems. “This new contractor will allow Camp East Montana to continue abiding by the highest detention standards WITH the ability to provide MORE medical care on-site,” DHS stated, but critics question whether these improvements are sufficient to address the crisis.

Acquisition Logistics LLC, the former operator, has not responded to requests for comment from NPR. Similarly, Chris Benoit, an attorney representing the family of Geraldo Lunas Campos, declined to provide additional details. This lack of transparency has fueled suspicions about the facility’s management and the handling of critical incidents. The GAO’s report, however, remains a key document in exposing the flaws of the system, particularly the connection between excessive spending and subpar detainee care.

As the debate over Camp East Montana continues, the facility stands as a symbol of the challenges facing immigration detention systems. While the DHS insists on improvements, the report’s findings suggest that the facility’s issues are not merely administrative but reflect deeper systemic failures. For detainees, the consequences are tangible: from financial inefficiencies to life-threatening conditions. The question now is whether the new contract will lead to meaningful change or if the cycle of mismanagement will persist.

The report also underscores the urgency of reform, particularly in light of the three deaths and the loss of crucial evidence. As the facility transitions to a new operator, the spotlight remains on its ability to deliver on promises of accountability and care. For now, the GAO’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those in immigration custody and the need for continued scrutiny of the system’s operations.