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DHS Scrutinizes El Paso Detention Amid Rising Deaths

3/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing the Camp East Montana contract in El Paso, Texas, amid scrutiny over conditions.
Records show 53 individuals died in ICE custody in 2025, with six deaths this year.
Complaints of violence and inadequate medical care persist, and Camp East Montana's population is about 1,500 detainees.
DHS is acquiring warehouses in Socorro, Texas, to create a detention facility with capacity for 8,500 detainees.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, marked a pivotal shift in U.S. immigration policy by abolishing national-origin quotas that favored Europeans. This legislation significantly increased immigration from Asia and Latin America, reshaping the demographic landscape and contributing to ongoing challenges in immigrant detention facilities, such as those at Camp East Montana.

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Story summary

The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing the Camp East Montana contract in El Paso, Texas, amid scrutiny over conditions.
Records show 53 individuals died in ICE custody in 2025, with six deaths this year.
Complaints of violence and inadequate medical care persist, and Camp East Montana's population is about 1,500 detainees.
DHS is acquiring warehouses in Socorro, Texas, to create a detention facility with capacity for 8,500 detainees.

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