{"id":233613,"date":"2026-04-03T15:18:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T15:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/233613\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T15:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T15:18:18","slug":"ice-inspection-finds-49-deficiencies-at-el-pasos-camp-east-montana-following-migrant-deaths-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/233613\/","title":{"rendered":"ICE inspection finds 49 deficiencies at El Paso\u2019s Camp East Montana following migrant deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Brief<\/p>\n

A federal inspection uncovered 49 deficiencies at Camp East Montana, including failures in medical care, security, and the use of force.<\/p>\n

At least three migrants have died in custody since mid-December at the El Paso site, which is the nation\u2019s largest immigrant detention facility.<\/p>\n

A new contractor took over operations on March 12 under a $453 million no-bid deal, though critics question if the change will improve safety.<\/p>\n

EL PASO, Texas – An Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspection is raising new questions about conditions inside the nation’s largest immigrant detention facility. The feds opened Camp East Montana last year, down in El Paso. <\/p>\n

Since mid-December, at least three migrants have died while in custody there and FOX 4 is learning that the detention site was recently cited for dozens of deficiencies.<\/p>\n

\"\"Critical failures at Camp East Montana<\/p>\n

What we know<\/p>\n

Camp East Montana sits on Fort Bliss in El Paso.<\/p>\n

A report describes the detention center failures in some of the most basic parts of detention operations. From medical care to safety.<\/p>\n

Now DHS suggests a new contractor will help turn things around.<\/p>\n

49 deficiencies found in ICE inspection report\"\"<\/p>\n

Dig deeper<\/p>\n

A three-day federal inspection, by ICE’s own team, over two days, in February found 49 deficiencies inside the massive detention facility.<\/p>\n

The report cites problems with medical care, security, staffing, suicide watch checks, tuberculosis isolation and documentation of force incidents.<\/p>\n

Among the most serious finding failures are tied to use of force and restraints.<\/p>\n

Deaths in custody raise safety concerns\"\"<\/p>\n

Since mid-December, at least three detainees have died in custody there.<\/p>\n

The inspection happened before ICE replaced the original contractor.<\/p>\n

DHS says a new company will run East Montana with promises, moving forward of better medical support, more staff and tighter oversight.<\/p>\n

What they’re saying<\/p>\n

In a statement to FOX 4, the agency says, in part, “ICE will continue to ensure that all the detainees in our custody receive the level of care, service, and medical support they need to match our high detention standards.”<\/p>\n

Critics, however, say changing contractors does not change who ultimately bears responsibility.<\/p>\n

“I always hope that somebody else can do it better. I mean, these companies are making a killing. It’s a, I mean, it’s a business, and we just hope that they don’t put profit over, you know, the life of an individual.”<\/p>\n

Local perspective<\/p>\n

Immigration attorney Jaime Barron says the concerns here go well beyond paperwork and strike at basic safety and care.<\/p>\n

“The government just can’t figure out how to do it right. Sadly, I don’t think the government’s intent is to do in a wrong manner, but the process with a private contractor, it’s just becoming really messy,” said Barron.<\/p>\n

“The loss of life is completely unacceptable. And, you know, it’s just, it shouldn’t happen. Individuals walked in healthy.”<\/p>\n

New $453 Million Contract for Facility Management\"\"<\/p>\n

What’s next<\/p>\n

Amentum services took over operations on March 12th.<\/p>\n

Federal records show the company’s no-bid deal runs through Sept. 30th. For a $453 million price tag.<\/p>\n

The Source<\/p>\n

Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Casey Stegall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Brief A federal inspection uncovered 49 deficiencies at Camp East Montana, including failures in medical care, security,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":233614,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[40686,90136,15200,138,140,139,63375,9844],"class_list":{"0":"post-233613","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-el-paso","8":"tag-camp-east-montana","9":"tag-deficiencies","10":"tag-detention-facility","11":"tag-el-paso","12":"tag-el-paso-headlines","13":"tag-el-paso-news","14":"tag-medical-care","15":"tag-safety-concerns"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233613\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}