Two Tuberculosis Cases Detected at Massive ICE Facility in Texas

Eighteen COVID-19 cases also identified at Camp East Montana, raising concerns about conditions at the 5,000-bed detention center.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Two active cases of tuberculosis and 18 cases of COVID-19 have been identified at the Camp East Montana immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas, according to U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar. The 5,000-bed facility, which is the largest immigration detention center in the country, has faced ongoing issues with chronic medical problems and deaths among detainees.

Why it matters

The cases of airborne diseases like tuberculosis and COVID-19 at the overcrowded detention center have heightened concerns about the inhumane conditions and lack of proper medical care for detainees. Immigration rights groups have long warned about physical abuse and neglect at the facility, which is run by a small private company with no prior experience operating a correctional facility.

The details

According to Escobar, around 3,100 people were being detained at Camp East Montana at the end of January, including 325 women. She said around one-third of detainees have a chronic illness and 200-300 require daily insulin. The tuberculosis and COVID-19 cases come less than a week after two measles cases were identified at a different immigration detention center in South Texas.

  • On February 4, 2026, two active cases of tuberculosis and 18 cases of COVID-19 were identified at Camp East Montana.
  • On February 2, 2026, a different immigration detention center in South Texas was placed on lockdown after two measles cases were identified.

The players

Veronica Escobar

A U.S. Representative for Texas's 16th congressional district and a Democrat.

Acquisition Logistics LLC

A small Virginia-based business with no listed experience running a correctional facility, which is the private company operating the Camp East Montana immigration detention center.

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What they’re saying

“Many of the chronic issues that I have reported out to the public and to members of my committee persist.”

— Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative (X)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security is looking to build two additional large immigration detention centers in El Paso County and the Dallas area that may hold up to 9,500 people each.

The takeaway

The tuberculosis and COVID-19 outbreaks at the massive Camp East Montana detention center underscore the urgent need to address the inhumane conditions and lack of proper medical care for detainees at immigration facilities across the country, which have long been plagued by reports of physical abuse, neglect, and even deaths.