Allegations of Abuse and Poor Conditions at Texas ICE Detention Camp Spark Calls for Closure
The Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, which houses approximately 2,700 detainees in a tent complex, is facing serious allegations of abuse and neglect. A coalition of civil rights groups released a 19-page letter accusing ICE officers of beatings, sexual abuse, and covert deportations of non-Mexican asylum seekers to Mexico, urging the immediate closure of the camp.
The letter, signed by eight organizations including the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, Estrella del Paso, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, was addressed to ICE acting director Todd Lyons and copied to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General as well as the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Among the specific allegations are claims that masked officers forced detainees to jump the border wall into Mexico under threat of imprisonment, bypassing legal deportation procedures. Sworn accounts describe guards inflicting injuries on detainees, including a Cuban detainee who reported head trauma and testicular injuries, and another detainee who recounted being crushed on the genitals and experiencing violence as punishment for disciplinary issues.
The camp's conditions are also reportedly inadequate. Detainees are housed in soft-sided tents designed for 72 people each, with failing plumbing and sewage backups causing detainees to use their own clothing to mop up waste. Reports of medical neglect include highly restricted access to insulin and blood pressure medications, as well as spoiled food leading to weight loss.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security have denied mistreatment allegations. DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that detainees receive meals, medical care, showers, and access to lawyers and family. ICE referred inquiries to DHS, which did not provide comments on each specific allegation.
Local officials have voiced concerns about the conditions at Fort Bliss. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar described the situation as dangerous and a potential public health hazard, urging DHS to be transparent regarding detention conditions at the facility.
