Full Breakdown
GAO Report Exposes Waste, Safety Failures, and Evidence Gaps at Camp East Montana, Nation’s Largest ICE Detention Center
6/11/2026, 3:14:00 PM
Camp East Montana: Rapid Opening and Capacity
Camp East Montana, a tented detention complex on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, opened in August 2025 with a capacity of 5,000 non-citizens. The Army awarded a $1.3 billion contract to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a contractor without detention experience, and transferred contract administration to ICE in October 2025. Average occupancy has been about 2,500 detainees.
Mismanagement, Financial Waste, and Contract Shortcomings
The GAO report released June 10 2026 found $11.5 million spent on meals, guards, medical services and transportation during the first 15 days of August 2025 when the camp held no detainees. The contract lacked tiered pricing, so ICE kept paying full rates as occupancy fell to about 1,600 in early 2026. GAO recorded 49 violations, including missing perimeter cameras and understaffed surveillance.
Safety, Health, and Evidence Failures
GAO recorded three detainee deaths. Cuban national Geraldo Lunas Campos died in January 2026; an autopsy ruled homicide by asphyxia after restraint, yet the contractor failed to file required use-of-force and death reports, and evidence was “missing or destroyed.” Nicaraguan Victor Manuel Diaz died by suicide after being placed in a medical holding room lacking vision panels and left unattended for over 15 minutes. The report also documented a tuberculosis outbreak after the contractor relied on symptom questionnaires instead of skin tests, and noted that detainees with HIV or diabetes lacked proper treatment plans.
Official Statements & Responses
DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis said the $453 million contract with Amentum Services “will allow Camp East Montana to continue abiding by highest detention standards provide more medical care on-site.” ICE said facility is “far from closing” and “upgrading.”
Criticism & Opposition
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called the GAO findings “damning” and said the mass deportation campaign was dangerous and irresponsible. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) urged Republicans to redirect funds to “hard-working Americans” and called for the facility’s shutdown. The ACLU of Texas, joined by the Texas Civil Rights Project, sued ICE alleging “flagrant human rights abuses.”
Conflicting Details and Unresolved Issues
Early reports described Campos’s death as a suicide attempt, but the autopsy later ruled homicide, creating a discrepancy. GAO noted a loaded firearm lost in January 2026 remained unrecovered as of March 2026. ICE’s investigation is on hold pending a federal criminal probe.
Verbatim Quotes
“flagrant human rights abuses” — ACLU of Texas
“Far from closing, Camp East Montana is upgrading.” — Lauren Bis, DHS spokesperson
“These are huge discrepancies in their failure to prevent suicides,” — Randall Kallinen, attorney for the family of Victor Manuel Diaz
“Republicans should work with us to redirect these funds to meet the needs of hardworking Americans," Escobar said in a news release.” — Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas
Future Oversight and Recommendations
GAO’s four recommendations call for tiered pricing to match occupancy, mandatory pre-occupancy inspections, an Army review of the acquisition process, and a DHS assessment of lessons learned. The recommendations aim to prevent repeat waste, improve safety standards, and ensure stronger oversight of future detention facilities.
