By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A large migrant detention facility, known as Camp East Montana and nicknamed the “Lone Star Lockup” by Senator John Cornyn, is nearing completion at Fort Bliss and could begin full operations soon. The facility, built by a private contractor, will hold up to 1,000 single adult detainees with pending deportation orders who have exhausted all legal appeals, according to Senator Cornyn. This detention center is part of a larger congressional package funding immigration facilities nationwide, with ICE already accepting a limited number of detainees. Senator Cornyn anticipates returning to the facility once it is fully operational, emphasizing the need for more detention centers to house migrants.
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Fort Bliss facility poised to become the nation’s largest migrant detention center. It’s hard to ignore the heavy weight of the past, especially when the present seems to echo it so disturbingly. The news that Fort Bliss, a military base in Texas, is being prepped to become the nation’s largest migrant detention center immediately calls to mind the painful history of Japanese-American internment during World War II. The very soil where so many were unjustly held is now slated to be the site of a massive new facility. This is not a coincidence; it’s a stark reminder of how quickly things can escalate, and how easily history can repeat itself.
This isn’t just a matter of semantics or exaggeration. The phrase “nation’s largest concentration camp” comes to mind, and the reality of such a designation is truly unsettling. The speed with which this facility could be ramped up to detain thousands is frightening. We are talking about potentially 5,000 people detained and a contract worth up to $1.2 billion to a company with no relevant experience. It’s easy to see why this is a cause for concern.
The historical parallels are impossible to ignore. The forced removal of Japanese Americans, the short notice, the relocation, and the construction of these facilities in mere weeks – it’s all echoing in the present. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which offered reparations, only highlights the past mistakes.
The rhetoric often shifts, but the outcome seems to remain the same. It’s alarming when you realize the government is re-using a facility that has such a dark history, and they expect us to simply accept it. The potential for families and children to be detained at this location raises the stakes even higher. The lack of due process and the potential for indefinite detention is a direct assault on basic human rights.
The situation in the camps during WWII should be a lesson to all. Japanese Americans were held for years, not one was accused of being a spy or being disloyal to the U.S. After the war, their homes and businesses were gone. They were left with nothing. It’s a situation that they aim to repeat with other people for the sake of racism.
The implications of this are vast. The economic and social consequences for those detained are devastating. The psychological toll is immeasurable. The erosion of civil liberties and the normalization of such practices is alarming. They want to larp like they are rewalking the footsteps of giants, but there is nothing to be proud of.
And the fact that a company with virtually no experience in running a correction facility was awarded the contract – worth so much money – stinks of something very wrong. The potential for corruption is immense.
This isn’t a matter of “good” or “bad” politics; it’s a matter of basic human decency. It’s about recognizing the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of safeguarding the rights of all people, regardless of their origin or circumstances.