Disturbing Conditions Reported at ICE's Largest Detention Camp

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

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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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. Current and former detainees describe overcrowding, lack of healthcare, malnutrition, and fear of security guards using force to quell disturbances.

Why it matters

The disturbing conditions at the Camp East Montana detention facility raise concerns about the treatment of immigrants in U.S. custody and the oversight of private contractors operating these facilities on behalf of the government. The high number of 911 calls and reports of deaths, self-harm, and medical neglect suggest systemic issues that require investigation and reform.

The details

Data and recordings from over 100 911 calls at the camp, as well as interviews and court filings, paint a picture of serious problems. Detainees describe living in loud, unsanitary quarters with about 3,000 people per day, struggling to access healthcare as diseases spread, losing weight due to lack of food, and fearing security guards who use force. The 911 calls include reports of assaults, suicidal detainees, and medical emergencies. Two deaths have occurred at the facility, including one ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.

  • The Camp East Montana facility opened in mid-August 2025.
  • In its first five months of operation, staff made nearly one 911 call per day.
  • On January 3, 2026, a 55-year-old Cuban man died after guards used handcuffs and force to restrain him.
  • On January 14, 2026, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man died by suicide days after being detained in Minnesota.

The players

Camp East Montana

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

Owen Ramsingh

A former property manager in Columbia, Missouri who spent several weeks in the Camp East Montana facility before his deportation to the Netherlands.

Geraldo Lunas Campos

A 55-year-old Cuban man who died at the Camp East Montana facility after guards used handcuffs and force to restrain him.

Veronica Escobar

A U.S. Representative from El Paso, Texas who has toured the Camp East Montana facility and is calling for its closure.

Acquisition Logistics LLC

The contractor awarded a $1.3 billion contract to build and operate the Camp East Montana facility.

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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 (Chicago Tribune)

“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 (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar is calling for an investigation into the contractor Acquisition Logistics LLC and its subcontractors to determine if they are delivering the services paid for by taxpayers. The Department of Homeland Security has indicated that the Office of Detention Oversight recently completed an inspection at Camp East Montana, but the results have not been made public.

The takeaway

The disturbing conditions and high number of emergencies reported at the Camp East Montana ICE detention facility highlight the urgent need for greater oversight, accountability, and reform of the immigration detention system. The well-being and human rights of detainees must be prioritized over cost-cutting measures and private profit motives.