ICE extends lease on Texas detention centre where three migrants died | News
Three Fatalities Reported at Texas Detention Center
EL PASO, Texas — Three individuals have died at Camp East Montana, a migrant detention center that opened in August 2025, prompting renewed scrutiny and calls for its closure.
Despite persistent accusations of human rights violations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced last week that it will extend the facility’s lease for another year, at an estimated cost of $776 million to taxpayers.
Democratic members of Congress and various advocacy organizations have been vocal in their demands for the detention center’s closure. They cite numerous reports of mistreatment of detainees since the facility began operations.
“They’re receiving substandard food and inadequate medical care. This place needs to be shut down,” said Veronica Escobar, a Democratic congresswoman from Texas.
A joint report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) detailed serious allegations, including assaults by guards, medical neglect, and overcrowding. One detainee reported, “The guards beat us. When one person speaks up for themselves, they take it out on all of us.”
As of February 2026, approximately 1,600 non-citizens were being held at the facility. A June 2026 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office indicated that the detention center fails to meet essential standards, posing risks to the safety and security of both detainees and staff.
In response to the criticism, ICE defended its practices, asserting that no detainees are subject to abuse and that they have access to food, medical care, legal representation, and family communication.
The ongoing discussion about Camp East Montana and immigration enforcement continues to gain momentum, as advocates argue for improved treatment of detainees and a reevaluation of current border strategies.
