Disturbing Conditions Uncovered at Texas ICE Detention Camp

911 calls and interviews reveal medical neglect, overcrowding, and emotional distress at the nation's largest ICE facility

Published on Mar. 6, 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 more than a hundred 911 calls, along with interviews and court filings, offer a disturbing portrait of overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition and emotional distress among detainees.

Why it matters

The issues uncovered at Camp East Montana raise serious concerns about the treatment of immigrants in U.S. detention facilities and the oversight of private contractors operating these facilities. The high number of medical emergencies, suicide attempts, and even deaths point to systemic problems that need to be addressed to ensure the safety and well-being of detainees.

The details

According to the report, the camp has averaged nearly one 911 call per day in its first five months of operation, with emergencies ranging from assaults and seizures to suicide attempts. Detainees describe unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, with about 3,000 people living in the facility per day. They say it is difficult to obtain medical care, and that disease spreads easily. At least two detainees have died, one from an apparent suicide and another from asphyxiation after a confrontation with guards. The facility's operator, Acquisition Logistics LLC, has faced criticism over the services it provides and allegations of fraud.

  • The camp opened in mid-August 2025.
  • In the first five months of operation, the camp made nearly one 911 call per day.
  • On January 3, 2026, a 55-year-old Cuban man died after an incident involving security guards.
  • On January 14, 2026, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man died by suicide days after being detained.
  • As of February 2026, the camp's population had been temporarily reduced to below 1,900 due to a measles outbreak.

The players

Camp East Montana

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

Acquisition Logistics LLC

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

Owen Ramsingh

A former property manager in Columbia, Missouri, who spent several weeks in the camp before his deportation to the Netherlands in February 2026.

Geraldo Lunas Campos

A 55-year-old Cuban man who died on January 3, 2026, after an incident involving security guards.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar

An El Paso Democrat who has called for the closure of the Camp East Montana facility and an investigation into the contractor Acquisition Logistics LLC.

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

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

— U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, U.S. Representative

What’s next

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar has called for an investigation into the contractor Acquisition Logistics LLC and the services it is providing at the Camp East Montana facility. The results of a recent ICE inspection of the camp have not been made public.

The takeaway

The disturbing conditions and medical emergencies uncovered at the Camp East Montana ICE detention facility highlight the urgent need for greater oversight and accountability of private contractors operating these facilities. The well-being and safety of detainees must be the top priority.