Disturbing Conditions Reported at ICE's Largest Detention Camp

911 calls and interviews reveal overcrowding, medical neglect, and emotional distress at Camp East Montana in Texas

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Serious medical and mental health emergencies have been routine at the nation's largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility, Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, since its opening, according to records obtained by The Associated Press. Data and recordings from over 100 911 calls, as well as interviews and court filings, paint a disturbing portrait of the conditions at the camp, where about 3,000 detainees have lived per day in loud and unsanitary quarters, struggling to obtain healthcare as disease spreads, losing weight due to lack of food, and fearing security guards known to use force.

Why it matters

The issues at Camp East Montana raise serious concerns about the treatment of detainees in the U.S. immigration detention system, which has faced longstanding criticism over substandard conditions and lack of accountability. The high rate of 911 calls, reports of medical neglect and emotional distress, and the deaths of two detainees highlight the urgent need for reform and oversight of these facilities.

The details

According to the report, staff at Camp East Montana made nearly one 911 call per day in the first five months of the facility's operation, with calls involving assaults, suicide attempts, medical emergencies, and more. Detainees have described the camp as "1,000% worse than a prison," with issues like overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, lack of food, and fear of security guards. Two detainees have died, one ruled a homicide due to asphyxiation, and at least six other suicide attempts have been reported.

  • Camp East Montana opened in mid-August 2025.
  • The 911 call data covers the first five months of the camp's operation.
  • A 55-year-old Cuban man died on January 3, 2026 after a confrontation with security guards.
  • A 36-year-old Nicaraguan man died by suicide on January 14, 2026, days after being detained in Minnesota.

The players

Camp East Montana

The largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, located in El Paso, Texas.

Owen Ramsingh

A former property manager in Columbia, Missouri who spent several weeks detained at Camp East Montana before being deported to the Netherlands.

Veronica Escobar

A U.S. Representative for Texas's 16th congressional district who has called for the closure of Camp East Montana and an investigation into the contractor operating the facility.

Geraldo Lunas Campos

A 55-year-old Cuban man who died on January 3, 2026 after a confrontation with security guards at Camp East Montana.

Acquisition Logistics LLC

The contractor awarded a $1.3 billion contract to build and operate Camp East Montana, which Rep. Escobar has called for an investigation into.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Every day felt like a week. Every week felt like a month. Every month felt like a year. Camp East Montana was 1,000% worse than a prison.”

— Owen Ramsingh, Former Detainee (The Associated Press)

“This facility should not be operational. It feels like this contractor is reinventing the wheel, and people are losing their lives in their experiment.”

— Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative (The Associated Press)

“People should be moved by the abject cruelty, but if they're not, I hope they're moved by the fraud and corruption.”

— Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative (The Associated Press)

What’s next

Rep. Escobar has called for an investigation into the contractor Acquisition Logistics LLC and the closure of Camp East Montana. The Department of Homeland Security has said an inspection was recently completed at the facility, but the results have not been made public.

The takeaway

The disturbing conditions and high rate of emergencies reported at Camp East Montana highlight the urgent need for reform and oversight of the U.S. immigration detention system. The allegations of medical neglect, emotional distress, and even deaths raise serious concerns about the treatment of detainees and the accountability of private contractors operating these facilities.