A third undocumented immigrant has died in 44 days at Camp East Montana, an ICE detention center on Fort Bliss, bringing heightened scrutiny to the facility. The latest death, that of 36-year-old Victor Manuel Diaz, is presumed a suicide, while the cause of death for the two previous detainees, Francisco Gaspar-Andres and Geraldo Lunas Campos, is still under investigation. Concerns have been raised by members of Congress regarding safety at the facility, which houses nearly 3,000 detainees, as the Trump administration continues to increase ICE detentions.
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A recent federal watchdog report revealed deplorable living conditions for soldiers deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border during the summer of 2025. Inspectors observed unsanitary conditions, including leaking sewage and non-functional facilities, at both Fort Bliss, Texas, and the Doña Ana Range Complex in New Mexico. Medical teams documented health and safety concerns, such as respiratory issues from air conditioners and increased insect populations due to standing water. The report also highlighted cramped living spaces that violated regulations regarding the amount of space per soldier.
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Human rights organizations, including the ACLU, have alleged widespread abuse at Camp East Montana, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at Fort Bliss. These organizations claim detained immigrants are coerced into crossing the border into Mexico, even if they have no connection to the country, or face being sent to jail in third countries. The report details physical abuse, sexual misconduct by officers, medical neglect, and denied access to legal counsel, prompting calls for the camp’s closure. Detainees describe instances of assault, threats, and substandard living conditions, leading organizations to demand a thorough investigation into the alleged human rights violations.
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A recent ICE inspection of the Fort Bliss migrant detention center, Camp East Montana, revealed 60 violations in just 50 days of operation. The report detailed failures in medical care, safety protocols, and access to legal resources for detainees. The facility, intended to expand to hold thousands of migrants, is managed by Acquisition Logistics LLC. Despite the findings, ICE has not commented on the violations or the current number of detainees being held.
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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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The Trump administration has established a large immigrant detention center at Fort Bliss, a site with a history of housing detainees, including during World War II, sparking strong criticism. This facility, projected to hold thousands, is seen by critics as a move to militarize immigration enforcement and fast-track deportations, reminiscent of the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center. Parallels have been drawn between the current situation and the historical internment of Japanese Americans, raising concerns about potential human rights violations and echoes of past injustices. The ACLU, among others, has condemned the camp, citing it as a “dangerous expansion of militarized immigration enforcement,” while the Department of Homeland Security has pushed back against these comparisons.
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The Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas, which once served as a detention site for Japanese Americans during World War II, is now the location of the largest ICE detention center in the United States. This new facility, capable of holding 5,000 detainees, has drawn criticism from Japanese American history stewards who see parallels between the current mass deportation campaign and the internment of their families. Homeland Security officials have defended the expansion, stating it is necessary to detain “the worst of the worst,” but critics like Mike Ishii argue the current administration is removing people from their homes without explanation. Historians like Brian Niiya are raising concerns about the past repeating itself.
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The Trump administration proposes transforming Fort Bliss, a large US army base, into a major deportation hub, sparking widespread criticism. This plan involves initially detaining up to 1,000 migrants, potentially expanding to 10,000, utilizing the base as a central point in a nationwide network for deportations. Opponents, including Texas Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, argue this would severely compromise military readiness and constitutes inhumane treatment of migrants. Concerns exist regarding the legal and human rights implications of detaining migrants on a military base, as well as the potential for escalating the already strained immigration enforcement.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
ACLU Reports Physical Abuse of Migrants at Fort Bliss Detention Center
Human rights organizations, including the ACLU, have alleged widespread abuse at Camp East Montana, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at Fort Bliss. These organizations claim detained immigrants are coerced into crossing the border into Mexico, even if they have no connection to the country, or face being sent to jail in third countries. The report details physical abuse, sexual misconduct by officers, medical neglect, and denied access to legal counsel, prompting calls for the camp’s closure. Detainees describe instances of assault, threats, and substandard living conditions, leading organizations to demand a thorough investigation into the alleged human rights violations.
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