A recent inspection at the nation’s largest immigration detention facility found dozens of violations of national standards that potentially exposed detainees to excessive force, disease, and other unsafe conditions.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Detention Oversight performed a congressionally mandated inspection over three days in February at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, according to a report posted online by ICE this week.
The report documents 49 deficiencies, which it defines as violations of detention standards or policies, in areas including the use of force and restraints, security, medical care and more. It was the first inspection released by that office since Camp East Montana was hastily built and opened last summer.
Attorney calls inspection findings ‘scathing’
The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual. The most found in any other inspection by the oversight office so far this year was 13.
“This report is scathing. Camp East Montana gets an F,” said attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of a detainee who died there. “It’s very dangerous. Not only are the detainees in danger of excessive force, they are also in danger of improper or negligent medical care and mental health care.”
The report comes as ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, is pausing the purchase of warehouses intended to house up to 7,000 immigrants at a single location. ICE data shows that Camp East Montana has been the largest detention site, housing nearly 3,000 detainees per day.
The inspection report documented a series of safety lapses. Camp staff did not document whether they were conducting required checks to prevent self-harm and suicide, which 911 calls show have been a major problem at the facility.
Despite these alarming results, the camp received an “acceptable/adequate” rating. Lawmaker Veronica Escobar expressed her lack of confidence in ICE to enact meaningful change, stating that conditions have not improved for detainees who often face medical neglect.
Despite ongoing concerns, an ICE spokesperson stated that a new contract would result in better medical care and staffing conditions.
