Full Breakdown
ICE Extends No-Bid Contract for Texas Detention Center Amid Abuse Allegations
7/28/2026, 4:10:08 AM
Core Event
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it will extend the no-bid contract with Amentum Services Inc. to operate the Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas, through September 2027. The extension adds an estimated $776 million to the original $452 million contract, bringing total projected payments to more than $1.2 billion for the period from March 2026 onward.
Background and Controversy
Camp East Montana, opened in August 2025, has housed an average of over 2,000 male and female detainees daily. Advocacy groups and Democratic members of Congress have repeatedly urged its closure, citing a Human Rights Watch and American Civil Liberties Union report that documents routine beatings, denial of medical care, unsanitary conditions, inedible meals, and at least three detainee deaths. Federal agency reviews have also flagged unsafe conditions and alleged wasteful spending.
Official Statements & Rationale
ICE’s notice argues that switching contractors would require replacing Amentum’s “proprietary infrastructure” and hiring new staff, creating duplicative costs. ICE further contends that relocating detainees is “impracticable” because of insufficient bed space at other facilities.
Criticism & Opposition
Human Rights Watch and ACLU researchers allege that the facility’s staff routinely engage in abuse and neglect, describing the continued contract as a “system of harm and abuse.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Extending Amentum's contract while ignoring well-documented abuses is reckless and demonstrates the Trump administration's full-scale assault on human rights,” — Angélica César, a fellow at Human Rights Watch and the ACLU
Data & Financial Overview
- Initial contract (awarded in March) – $452 million.
- Proposed extension – $776 million additional cost.
- Total projected payment to Amentum – > $1.2 billion for March 2026 – September 2027.
- Average detainee population – > 2,000 per day.
- Reported detainee deaths – at least three.
The extension proceeds despite documented human-rights concerns, with ICE emphasizing operational continuity while critics warn the contract perpetuates documented abuses.
